“The world’s most valuable work”

08.11.2021

Why the Leopold Museum is exhibiting “Air” in cooperation with the Ministry for Climate Action

Last week, the Leopold Museum announced the unveiling of “the world’s most valuable work”. Following speculation about the type of work and its creator, the secret has now been revealed: As of 4th November, the Vienna Leopold Museum is exhibiting “Air” encased in a frame. The intention is to present clean air – a commodity that we must preserve – as being more valuable than the countless masterpieces by various artists. The project is realized in cooperation with the Ministry for Climate Action.

“Art in its most progressive form highlights problems and social wrongs, and encourages us to find solutions. The threat to the environment, and thus to our future, is naturally no exception to this,” commented the Leopold Museum’s Artistic Director, Hans-Peter Wipplinger, on the initiative. “The Leopold Museum is a venue and place of safekeeping for progressive art and the ideas of Viennese Modernism. It gives us great pleasure to be part of this future-oriented campaign and to thus fulfil our mandate as a museum in an even more comprehensive manner,” added Moritz Stipsicz, the museum’s Commercial Director.

“Clean air is a precious commodity that we need to look after. Each and every one of us can make their contribution with the new ‘KlimaTicket’, as using public transport reduces pollution and CO2 emissions. This benefits our climate, our environment and the air that we breathe,” noted the Minister for Climate Action Leonore Gewessler. “In the Leopold Museum we have found a partner in the art world who knows how to protect what is precious, and whose mission is similar to ours.”

The “exhibit” will be on display until 3rd December in the atrium of the Leopold Museum.

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