11.07. – 20.10.2024
In ancient Greece, we encounter a culture of wine enjoyment that is unrivalled. Festivals and religious cults would be inconceivable without the juice of the vine. This drinking culture is echoed in ancient literature and on the countless figuratively painted vases, whose various forms were characterised by communal feasting. Formerly a privilege of the aristocracy, from the late archaic period onwards these symposia also became a part of the evening meal for increasingly broader sections of society. However, the enjoyment of wine had to be learned: on the one hand, the course of the banquet was characterised by cultivated drinking, witty and humorous conversation and a musical and other accompanying programme. On the other hand, the increasing intoxication was also accompanied by less socially acceptable conversations, sexual debauchery and loss of control.
The subject of wine also plays an important role in the work of Styrian photographic artist Johann Willsberger. He is also fond of the corresponding ancient vase paintings and the Greek god Dionysus, who is associated with the juice of the vine. And so the one is combined with the other to create a brilliant exhibition in the Munich Collections of Antiquities. Authentic antique vase paintings meet new stagings by Willsberger and enter into a dialogue about wine and sensuality with his 'fermentation' and 'squeezing' pictures of top wines, which stimulate the human imagination.
Catalogue
The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue.
The images provided here may be used in the context of editorial reporting on the Staatliche Antikensammlungen and the Glyptothek with reference to the exhibition "Wine & Sensuality. The photographer Johann Willsberger discovers the Greek Symposium" may be used free of charge, provided the source is cited as ©Staatliche Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek. Use for commercial purposes is not permitted.
