Andreas-Hofer-Platz in Graz: art on the roof

Once again the Contipark parking facility at Andreas-Hofer-Platz in Graz became the stage for an art project. In the context of La Strada Graz, an international festival for street art, puppet theatre, new circus and community art, the trademark of the Andreas-Hofer-Platz, the round roof, was used for an art installation on 26 July 2020.

Under the motto “Art finds city”, the Styrian capital became the venue on this day for the action “It does matter where” by the Austrian artist Willi Dorner, which was unannounced in advance in terms of time and space. The aim of the so-called Community Art project is the reconquest of urban living space. For this purpose, chairs were set up last Sunday at various locations in the city, on which the artists of the project settled. The roof of the Andreas Hofer Square was also “occupied” in this way, the participants were brought to the roof by means of a lifting platform. An action of great symbolic character: by sitting on the chairs in the unusual places, the artists took over the urban space for themselves. Thus the action was also intended to be a call to create more living and movement space for people in the mostly densely built-up inner city areas. The audience was led – in small groups in conformity with the corona situation – on a guided tour through the inner city of Graz along the artistic activities.

La Strada takes place annually in summer and uses public space as a space for action. On average, the format attracts around 100,000 visitors to Graz. In 2020 the festival concept was revised at short notice due to the pandemic and adapted to the currently valid regulations.