28 | 1988

Somewhat out of routine, yet basically in line with the work published so far, this issue of CAMERA AUSTRIA is exclusively dedicated to one single project. Along with other events, ” SURVIVING ENERGYW has been a contribution to his year’s program of”Styrian’s Cultural Initiative” launched in cooperation with the “styrian autumn”.

As early as spring this year, nine photographers from Austria and abroad had made their introduction wit small exhibitions in Styrian industrial towns in order to invite local photographers to participate in a two weeks’ workshop. The present situation in the communities have set the theme. The results offer a fairly representative cross-section view of a crises-shaken Styrian(Austria? European? )region where shutdowns and restructuring schemes have raised grim questions of existence and identity. (For details, see the contribution by Christian Fleck.)

In the workshops that followed, the photographic experience of the workshop leaders and the participants’ knowledge of local conditions were to merge in their cooperation, the results of which were to satisfy political needs and artistic standards locally and elsewhere and to create a collection of material of cultural-historical importance. The communities involved will receive the work produced in their area- not without the ulterior motive that is might serve as a basis for ongoing collections.

Previously, the works will have been exhibited, not only i the tows where they originated but also in a collective exhibition in Graz. The publication of this project is being attender to by CAMERA AUSTRIA. Bringing together the varied photographic positions of the workshop leaders on the one hand and ,on the other ,  the variety brought in by the participants- the oldest being 72, the youngest 12 years of age- , the photo-educational approach and the highly controversial subject matter were justification enough to “go ahead and do it”.

We express our thanks to “Styia’s Cultural Initiative” directed by Ms. Helga Konrad, as well as to the “styrian autumn” and its managing director for their financial support. We thank the cultural representatives of all nine communities; the Austrian Railways and the Graz-Köflacher-Railways for the use of exhibition space in railway stations and railroad cars; we thank the participants and, last but not leaf, the workshop leaders for their dedicated cooperation, proof of whicht can be found on the following pages.

Manfred Willmann, Hermann Candussi