Giant Hare on the Albertina Roof Kicks Off Anniversary Week for 250th Birthday

The current edition, however, surpasses all previous dimensions. A hare already hopped onto the roof back in 2014: at that time, a smaller Hörl version of the Dürer hare adorned the same cantilever roof of the Albertina. Even then, the artist — who works as a German conceptual artist and sculptor — had translated Dürer's iconic motif into a serial plastic.

Responsible for organizing the celebration weekend is Director General Ralph Gleis. On Saturday, he will cut a specially commissioned monumental Sacher cake on the Bastei, which will then be shared with the public.

Background

The Albertina was founded 250 years ago and is today one of Vienna's most significant museums. The anniversary is to be celebrated with a diverse program intended to appeal directly to visitors.

On offer are 250 free guided tours, open studios, and dance performances. With this large number of free offerings, the museum seeks to honor the anniversary and make access to the collection and exhibitions possible for as many people as possible.

On July 4 and 5, all three locations — the Albertina, Albertina Modern, and Albertina Klosterneuburg — will open their doors free of charge. This allows interested visitors to explore the three institutions of the group over two days without paying an admission fee.

Program and Participants

The program of the anniversary weekend ranges from classic tours of the collections to contemporary dance performances. Open studios are also part of the offering, allowing visitors a behind-the-scenes look at museum operations.

Director General Ralph Gleis staged the kickoff of the weekend together with the artist Ottmar Hörl and the institution's team. With the hoisting of the giant hare onto the cantilever roof, the museum sets a clear statement: art should be visible — and in the public space of Vienna.

Conceptual artist Ottmar Hörl is known for his serial art, in which he reinterprets classic motifs in large numbers and in sometimes oversized plastic sculptures. With his Dürer Hare series, he builds a bridge between the old mastery of Albrecht Dürer and contemporary art.

The Albertina itself preserves one of the most famous sheets in European art history in Dürer's watercolor "Young Hare." The figure on the roof takes up this motif and makes it directly tangible for passersby.

Symbolism and Eye-Catcher

The pink coloring is unusual for a museum building and is meant to attract attention. Anyone walking across Albertinaplatz or visiting the neighboring Vienna State Opera can already see the sculpture from afar, hovering above the entrance area.

"Pinker Riesenhase thront bis Jahresende am Dach der Albertina Besser den Hasen am Dach als den Spatz in der Hand," the museum states in a press release: "Seit Mittwoch grüßt Albrecht Dürers ikonischer 'Feldhase' nicht nur in der Albertina die Menschen, sondern auch vor dem Gebäude."

Outlook on the Anniversary Year

The idea of showing contemporary art on the cantilever roof is not new. Back in 2014, a smaller Hörl version was draped on the same roof. With the new, significantly enlarged edition, the museum underscores its ambition to make the anniversary visible in the urban space as well.

With the weekend of July 4 and 5, a dense series of events begins that is set to continue throughout the year. The museum announces that it will accompany the anniversary with changing program items and special formats.

The giant hare on the roof will remain installed until the end of the year, serving as a permanent visual companion to the anniversary. In this way, the Albertina sets an artistic sign in the heart of Vienna over several months.

The program and all further information are available through the museum's channels. Those wishing to visit the weekend can, on July 4 and 5, enter all three locations free of charge and take advantage of the diverse offerings.

With the symbolic hoisting of the giant hare, the kickoff of the anniversary is thus not only a photographic event, but also a programmatic one: the museum presents itself as open, colorful, and accessible to all — in keeping with an institution that, 250 years after its founding, has lost none of its radiance.