INFO

The nineteenth edition of the festival shut up and listen!, founded in 2006, offers sixteen concerts and performances over five festival days, including numerous world premieres, as well as an experimental film and various exhibits (prints, oil paintings, sound installations, media art and a timelapse video). As in previous years, sual! 2024 will be presented both via livestreaming and in the well-established format of collective experiencing on site. For the first time, part of the festival will take place at the newly founded listening gallery SP•CE, presenting a sound installation by Christine Schörkhuber that was created as part of the artistic research project AUDIO GHOSTS (FWF-PEEK), as well as a multi-channel listening room featuring works by Nina Jukić, Svetlana Maraš, Werner Raditschnig, and Johannes S. Sistermanns.

In view of unstable political constellations and uncertain future scenarios, the title ALL _e IN focuses on a reflection and realignment of contemporary art and sound creation, considering global challenges such as climate change and migration. The growing success of populist movements, armed conflicts and recent excesses of neoliberal ideologies have led many artists to feel marginalized both politically and socially. However, being aware of the significance of cultural achievements, of values that are among the unique characteristics of human existence, we aim to take a stand against these developments. During a time when artistic practice is described as “not relevant to the system”, as has occasionally been the case during the Covid pandemic, this only means that “the system” needs to be questioned. Thus, we strive to artistically explore diversity and promote respectful coexistence that includes all living beings. ‘Allein’ (German for ‘Alone’) evolves into ‘All in’. This utopia deserves to be promoted.

Let’s shut up and listen! – Together.

Bernhard Gál