Debt is a broad concept that can be examined from various perspectives, including its emotional, social, historical, and economic dimensions. Symbolically, it represents any form of imbalance. It can also be understood as the distortion of a promise. Contemporary society is shaped by promises—of security, community and care—often dictated by economic contracts, historical injustices and societal expectations. Debt functions both as an ‘investment in the self’ and as a mechanism closely tied to control and discipline, as well as to responsibility, obligation and guilt. Between the fragility and persistence of the (power) structures that bind us together, the exhibition responds to the topic in its material—largely sculptural—written and spoken forms.
Artists: Gleb Amankulov, Benjamin Hirte, David L. Johnson, Tammy Langhinrichs, Artur Schernthaner-Lourdesamy, Miriam Stoney, Magdalena Stückler, Frank Wasser
Curator: Hana Ostan-Ožbolt-Haas
With the generous support of Tectus Risk Management, Thaddaeus Ropac Galllery Salzburg and the Slovenian Cultural Information Centre Vienna.
Hana Ostan-Ožbolt-Haas (she/her, b. Slovenia) is an art historian, independent curator and writer. From 2019 to 2023, she was director of the ULAY Foundation, where she was responsible for various (curatorial) projects related to issues of the artist’s legacy. A selection of her recent curatorial projects includes exhibitions at SOPHIE TAPPEINER (Vienna, 2024), Gregor Podnar (Vienna, 2024), Schauraum MuseumsQuartier Wien (Vienna, 2023/2024), Sector Gallery 1 (Bucharest, 2023), Eva Kahan Foundation (Vienna, 2023), HOW Art Museum (Shanghai, 2022/2023), Georg Kargl Fine Arts as part of the Curated by Festival (Vienna, 2022) and Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam, 2020/2021). Ostan-Ožbolt-Haas is a contributor to Artforum and her writing has been published in Frieze and ArtReview. She recently held a visiting professorship at die Angewandte, University of Applied Arts Vienna. She lives and works in Vienna.
Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationExhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationV.l.n.r.: David L. Johnson, Snow, 2014, HD Video, 8 min 49 sec, Ton, courtesy of the artist and THETA. Benjamin Hirte, Cover, 2024, Carrara marble, 95 × 95 × 3 cm, courtesy the artist & Layr, Vienna. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationDavid L. Johnson, Snow, 2014, HD video, 8 min 49 sec, sound, courtesy of the artist and THETA. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationGleb Amankulov, Display on Demand, 2024, Leather left overs from local factory production, found metal wire, marble napkin holders, wooden easel of beginning of 30ies, 4 wooden legs from day bed Kovona of 30ies-40ies, leather military leggins of WWI time, metal towel holders, part of iron cast Christmas three holder from pre-WWI, small wooden corner, old found footrest out of wood, two metal shelf holders, 5 leather belts, small found ceramic piece, small wooden shelf in the shape of two books, various sizes, courtesy of the artist and Commune Gallery. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationGleb Amankulov, Display on Demand, 2024, Leather left overs from local factory production, found metal wire, marble napkin holders, wooden easel of beginning of 30ies, 4 wooden legs from day bed Kovona of 30ies-40ies, leather military leggins of WWI time, metal towel holders, part of iron cast Christmas three holder from pre-WWI, small wooden corner, old found footrest out of wood, two metal shelf holders, 5 leather belts, small found ceramic piece, small wooden shelf in the shape of two books, various sizes, courtesy of the artist and Commune Gallery. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationFrank Wasser, Lectern (From One State to Another State), 2024, 18.3 kg of sawdust from a sanded down museum lectern contained with an industrial dust bag, contained within a suitcase, 77.5 × 55 × 33 cm, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationF.l.t.r.: David L. Johnson, Loiter (Joseph), 2024, removed standpipe spike, 48,3 × 29.2 × 16.5, courtesy of the artist and THETA. David L. Johnson, Loiter (Corey), 2024, removed standpipe spike, 44,5 × 30.5 × 15.2 cm, courtesy of the artist and THETA. David L. Johnson, Loiter (Aaron), 2024, removed standpipe spike, 29,2 × 27.9 × 21.6 cm, courtesy of the artist and THETA. David L. Johnson, Loiter (Seror), 2024, removed standpipe spike, 34.3 × 30.5 × 19.1 cm, courtesy of the artist and THETA. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationDavid L. Johnson, Loiter (Corey), 2024, removed standpipe spike, 44,5 × 30,5 × 15,2 cm, courtesy of the artist and THETA. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationFront: Magdalena Stückler, limited endlessness, 2024, screen print on canvas, 160 × 15 × 5 cm, courtesy of the artist. Magdalena Stückler, limited endlessness, 2024, screen print on canvas, 245 × 159 cm, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationExhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationFront: Tammy Langhinrichs, Untitled, 2022/2024, wool, mixed farbric, fiberfill, 25 × 130 × 230 cm, courtesy the artist & Elektrohalle Rhomberg. Back: Benjamin Hirte, Spender, 2024, drinking fountain, marble, various materials, 97 × 30,5 × 45 cm, courtesy the artist & Layr, Vienna. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationBenjamin Hirte, Spender, 2024, drinking fountain, marble, various materials, 97 × 30,5 × 45 cm, courtesy the artist & Layr, Vienna. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationBenjamin Hirte, Spender, 2024, drinking fountain, marble, various materials, 97 × 30,5 × 45 cm, courtesy the artist & Layr, Vienna. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationExhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationExhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationMiriam Stoney, du sourd, du teigneux, de la grisaille, 2022/2024, series of six colour prints, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationExhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationGleb Amankulov, Cover II, 2024, metal table legs, front door out of nutwood of the Austrian wardrobe from 60’s, ceramic figure of a duck, two glass plugs, small decorative glass vase, T-shirt with A1 logo, 125 × 141 × 125 cm, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationGleb Amankulov, Cover II, 2024, metal table legs, front door out of nutwood of the Austrian wardrobe from 60’s, ceramic figure of a duck, two glass plugs, small decorative glass vase, T-shirt with A1 logo, 125 × 141 × 125 cm, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationBenjamin Hirte, Dress, 2024, Carrara-Marmor, 94,5 × 94,5 × 3 cm, courtesy the artist & Layr, Vienna. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationArtur Schernthaner-Lourdesamy, Corner Gesture, 2024, MDF, USB, Elektronik, 6 Module, Größe variable, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationLeft: Gleb Amankulov, Cover II, 2024, metal table legs, front door out of nutwood of the Austrian wardrobe from 60’s, ceramic figure of a duck, two glass plugs, small decorative glass vase, T-shirt with A1 logo, 125 × 141 × 125 cm, courtesy of the artist. Middle back: Benjamin Hirte, Dress, 2024, Carrara marble, 94,5 × 94,5 × 3 cm, courtesy the artist & Layr, Vienna. Right front: Benjamin Hirte, Shrine, 2024, Red Sandstone, plastic, lacquer, 124.5 × 81 × 65 cm, courtesy the artist & Layr, Vienna. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationIn the Ring Gallery, Artur Schernthaner-Lourdesamy, Fragments (Stored Together), 2024, copper, steel, 8 pieces, variable size, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationIn the Ring Gallery, Artur Schernthaner-Lourdesamy, Fragments (Stored Together), 2024, copper, steel, 8 pieces, variable size, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentationIn the Ring Gallery, Artur Schernthaner-Lourdesamy, Fragments (Stored Together), 2024, copper, steel, 8 pieces, variable size, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition view ‘Debt. Annual Exhibition 2024/2025,’ Salzburger Kunstverein 2024, photo: kunst-dokumentation
