G’day folks. Well I was planning on doing one big post about my time in Vienna last year. My second visit to the Austrian capital and this time I felt I got to really appreciate why it is such a popular destination. After sorting through photos from Vienna, I’ve decided to split it into two posts because I thought there was enough to write about in regards to artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

I had never heard of the name ‘Hundertwasser’ before, but my wife was interested in visiting Vienna last year, but my wife said she wanted to visited the Hundertwasser Museum and I was happy to go with whatever she wanted to visited.

Friedensreich Hundertwasser was an Austrian artist and architect born in Vienna in 1928. He actually passed away in Queensland, Australia in 2000. He was also an environmental and the spaces he created are colourful and different, and usually have an environmental element to them as well. His art is also colourful, and spirals are a common feature of these His architectural style is somewhat inspired by Gaudi whose buildings are famous in Spain and particular Barcelona.

In Vienna I visited three locations to get a feel for the work and style of Hundertwasser – The Hundertwasser Museum, The Hundertwasser Village and the Hundertwasser House.

The Hundertwasser Museum, aka ‘Kunst Haus’ is probably the most worthwhile, but there is an entrance fee of course. It starts at around 16 Euro for an adult. The museum is over four or so floors, and to be more accurate I would call it a gallery as it is full of art. The outside is colourful with blues and a bit of white, the floors are not flat – in fact it seemed to me that Hundertwasser tried to avoid straight lines where he could, and so the floors are undulating which was kind of cool, just not if you get around in a wheelchair I guess.

There is some of his artwork, and more so artwork from other artists that they felt fitted with Hundertwasser’s style. So yes, it was reasonably modern, there were some interesting installations, some requiring motors moving about, others inviting you to turn handles or pedals. There were a couple of films too. Although I have an aversion to modern art, the reality is that some of it ‘tickles my fancy’ if you will. Some of this certainly did. There was also a wall of information about the man himself!

The Hundertwasser Village was a little 15 minute walk away. It’s really a little shopping centre and the building was his vision. Colours, everything sort of merging a bit, the ground floor was not flat, not sure about the first floor it may have been. Inside was where it’s at. Shops and a bar/café (maybe two?). The shops mostly were for souvenirs and bric a brack but I really like the Euro note it printed in Hundertwasser style! It’s a cool space to hang for a little bit, I suspect my photos and video explain it a whole lot better than I can in words!

Then I visited the Hundertwasser Haus (house) which is next to the village. It’s got a cool fountain outside and is another similar example on the outside of his style. It is actually an apartment building and people live inside so you can’t go inside. But you can appreciate the architecture, and well, this is the spot where many many tourists head for photos and of course, the obligatory selfie.

All in all, if you’re interested in the guy or this kind of art then it’s probably going to interest you, and for me on my second visit to Vienna it was great to experience some different to what I had previously and indeed what I would normally go for. I thought his style was unique. He was probably somewhat bonkers lol.

Thanks for popping by today! Take care wherever you are in the world and… May the Journey Never End!