ALPHA..ROMEO..TANGO – ART

Can you present the 50th anniversary of the Austrian Air Force in an art show? An nighttime exhibition that runs until January 30 at Hangar-7 demonstrates: you can!

In the international communications code, ALPHA..ROMEO..TANGO are the words for A, R and T. That makes ALPHA..ROMEO..TANGO the ideal name for an art exhibition that deals in a special way with flying. Until January 30, Hangar-7 at Salzburg Airport – the home of the Flying Bulls’ unique collection of historic aircraft – is staging an exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of the Austrian Air Force, which was founded in 1955. The anniversary is significant enough to justify commemorating it with an art project in 2006 as well.

Air-to-Air Photos...

The exhibition at Hangar-7 is intended to be a discussion between two different partners: on the one hand, the hierarchical, uniformed world of the air force; on the other hand, the individual, critical world of art. The air force chose to be represented by the Japanese aviation photographer Katsuhiko Tokunaga, one of the world’s most renowned air-to-air- photojournalists, who from a flying aircraft shoots his photos of one or more other flying aircraft.

...versus Creativity

Tokunaga’s spectacular photography is juxtaposed with works by seven artists who live in Austria and have created artworks that deal with the air force. Miriam Bajtala, for example, has created a video installation entitled “Operation Goldhaube” (Goldhaube is the name of the Austrian Air Force’s aerial surveillance system), in which soldiers performing their basic military service stretch a kilometer-long rubber band across an empty room with hooks on the walls. In his mixed-media installation, David Moises has created a flying carpet that is powered by a leaf-blower. And Björn Segschneider has used the sound of fighter jets to create a sound installation and video collage called “After-Burner/Supercruise” that sounds like an organ.

Best Place, best Time

ALPHA..ROMEO..TANGO is being shown in an optimal location: in the fascinating architecture of Hangar-7 (built in the shape of a wing). The exhibition itself uses a sophisticated lighting system to create a show that is especially effective at night. A visit between 4 pm and 11 pm is highly recommended.