What remains of all this are many exhibition halls and just as many works. Many new impressions, promises kept and somehow also a fair amount of chaos. Is Warhol’s art at the mumok worth seeing? Yes, for sure. Rare things can be discovered at the show – including even reconstructed, historical exhibitions. That doesn’t happen often.
But is the exhibition FACTION? No, not at all. One is greeted by a musty hall full of showcases – there is no magic to speak of. And if there is, then the magic lies in the little things. For in the mumok, Warhol himself provides ironic magic & elegant surprises. At most, the museum shows many aspects of the complex #AndyWarholExhibits. This would have FACTION potential, because the exhibited pieces move on different meta-levels. And meta is – as I have often pointed out – ALWAYS GOOD.
However, the Warhol focus in the mumok is too small-scale, too soft, too cam. What is missing for me is the big FACTION gesture. A self-conscious, dramaturgical as well as architectural, red thread is missing. A good pinch of Hollywood, a touch of EPIC – that would have been it, to make it UNIQUE. The exhibition wants a lot, shows a lot – but doesn’t dare to do much.