Testimonials Visiting Critics Vienna 2025
I give thanks to Verein K’s team: Jelena, Dejan, and Klaus, as well as my co-residents: Miona, Gabriel, and Eugene for a wonderful ten days in sunny Vienna! The residency structure was so enriching, from visiting artist studios to off spaces, museums and galleries, we were offered a comprehensive exploration of the city’s artistic ecology. I was moved by the intellectual and human generosity/openness that shaped all the encounters. And even more, by how the discussions continued informally well beyond the organised meetings. The exchanges with Verein K’s team and my co-residents truly carved out a space for collective reflection on the art/encounters we were experiencing, as well as broader discussions drawn from our different geographies, disciplines, and interests. We also had the opportunity to present our experience and discuss art and writing at Depot. I found this to be very fruitful as it gave us the occasion to both synthesise our ideas among ourselves while engaging in a slightly more formal conversation with the scene. The residency’s exposure extends beyond the time spent in Vienna. Through this program, we are also offered space to enter in conversation with a publication/art magazine (for instance, Camera Austria) and propose a review. Overall, it was all great. The intellectual exchange, the laughter, the slices of Sachertorte, not to mention the much-needed 15k steps daily.
– Soukaina Aboulaoula (Morocco)
The ten day art critics’ program organized by Verein K was a super complete and intense immersion in the Viennese ecosystem of contemporary art. The visits to public and private/ independent institutions and the numerous conversations that the program promoted allowed a glimpse not only on the organization of this ecosystem but also on its politics and the intersections between the local scene and the wider national and international debates. Together with this comprehensive approach to the scene, the trio of organizers — Jelena, Dejan and Klaus — are the best hosts and guides one could ask for, both friendly and sharp in their critical views. The Vienna they offered us was diverse, warm and welcoming.
– Gabriel Bogossian (Brasil)
As a fairly sedentary person, which is to say, someone who hasn’t felt compelled to attend museums and galleries in recent years—a product of my dejectedness with contemporary art and perhaps symptomatic of a larger lebensmüde—I was initially apprehensive about this 10 day residency. Verein K’s itinerary comprising back-to-back studio visits, gallery tours, institutional presentations, and curatorial walkthroughs presented themselves as a fugue that I was once familiar with, but have long not had a part in singing. However, as I rolled up my sleeves and followed the stream, encountering art, artists, and cultural workers it became increasingly apparent that perhaps assessing the art in Vienna was, strangely, not the true point of this residency for art critics. In other words, the opportunity to spend 10 days with three intellectually astute and morally fortified colleagues—Soukaina, Gabriel, and Miona—reminded me of something more important: why I ever decided to care, think, and write about art in the first place. At best, art can enable new ways of thinking through just how large, brutal, and terrifying the world is, while also showing us how we can form alliances with people with the same political and aesthetic convictions. This is the elemental truth that I had forgotten. But the art of Vienna—however affronting to our individual or collective sensibilities—stirred between us four residents some spirited discussions that brought these coordinates back into view. I’m beyond grateful to my new friends for reminding me why I threw myself into this craven industry. Dejan and Jelena—the infinitely kind and riotously fun architects of this program—are unparalleled in their hospitality, humour, and care. The experience was totally apotheotic, and I’m honoured to have been invited into it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
— Eugene Yiu Nam Cheung (Australia / Hong Kong)
Toward the end of our program, after a full day’s work and a night of talking about art and languages, a colleague and I got into a taxi. “So, it’s work or pleasure that brings you to Vienna?” asked the driver. “Oh, it’s work – but we so love it!” An exclamation mark, an eyebrow raised, so I explained: “We’re here to look at contemporary art. Our ‘boss’ takes us around museums (ed. note: galleries, studios, off spaces) so that we see as much as possible and give feedback. We’ve come from all over the world.” “Sounds great. When you get to hear what others think of you,” he concluded. To which I courteously agreed, as it seems universally apparent – the benefit of a critics’ residency to an art ecosystem. Too bad it’s such a rarity. Verein K – Dejan, Jelena and Klaus – organized this one to perfection, with their sweet blend of ease, warmth and impeccable professionalism. As for my colleagues – three beautiful people from four continents – they were among the most brilliant art professionals I’ve encountered. Conversation was rich, fresh and stimulating, whether about the local scene, art, or our times in general. My local(ised) perspectives have begun to tilt and shift… Vienna never looked better than in September 2025.
– Miona Muštra (Croatia)
Verein K is an independent arts and cultural organization from Vienna, founded in January 2018. Verein K focuses on projects in the field of contemporary art and culture connecting diverse cultural and social interests: critical approaches to contemporary art, creating curatorial platforms as well as enabling innovative cultural practices including diverse social groups.