Barbara Salaun
Barbara Salaun, *1964 in Vienna, is a multimedial working artist who combines different working methods, expressive media and technologies such as painting, traditional printing/lithography and etching, video/augmented reality.
The artistic oeuvre visualizes and combines seemingly contradictory approaches and processes –
in constant transformation and abstract imagery.
Her latest graphic series are devoted to the themes of (World) Cultural Heritage Sites:
– Old Summer Palace in Beijing
– World Heritage Site Vienna
– Confucius Temple, Cemetery and Residence of the Kong family in Qufu
In her artistic work, she always works in structured concepts and complex networks and acts as a link for national and international interdisciplinary cooperation as an active bridge builder, especially between the cultures of Austria and China. Her exhibition activities in Austria are supported by the Gallery for Contemporary Art at the Viennese Art Publishing House Wolfrum, her international exhibitions are conducted in close cooperation with the Confucius Institute at the University of Vienna and the Austrian Cultural Forum.
Her exhibitions abroad are primarily integrated into university, interdisciplinary symposia; her works and lectures are directed equally at co-lecturers and students.
She is involved in the development of school teaching programmes and regularly gives courses (often on a voluntary basis) in the field of printmaking in order to raise awareness of traditional forms of expression, especially among young people, and to strengthen their interest in creative expression. Cooperation partners, among others: Pedagogical Academy, Austrian Association of Religious Schools and Caritas Vienna.
“A Touch of Purple and Gold” – Exhibition on the Old Summer Palace Beijing / Yuanmingyuan
In this exhibition, the contemporary Viennese artist Barbara Salaun offers a new approach to Chinese architectural history and culture. In a sensitive way, the artist takes up the unique pictures of the Old Summer Palace in Beijing, which are presented in the form of traditional Austrian Etchings supplemented with watercolours and gold leaf. The graphic series is the result of a unique collaboration between science and art, specifically with the research team of Tsinghua University Beijing/Digital Heritage Protection. In this exhibition, the artist processes her impressions of China in a series of etchings/vedutas, thus combining them with ancient craftsmanship and traditional European expression. The use of Augmented Reality leads back into the modern digital world and also enables an audio-visual experience in film and sound. The exhibition documents including accompanying texts are available in German, English, Chinese and Russian.
Exhibitions (excerpt):
2025 Solo exhibition Austrian Cultural Forum Zagreb, “The Beauty of World Heritage” Austria and China
2025 Solo exhibition Parkhotel Schönbrunn, Gloriettebar, “The Beauty of World Heritage” Austria and China
2025 Solo exhibition Rossauerkaserne, Federal Ministry of Defence, “The Beauty of World Heritage” Austria and China
2024 Release of three “table lamps” in collaboration with the Augarten porcelain manufactory and Donauer Design,
two motifs from China, one motif from Vienna
2023 Participation in the Ninth International Silk Road Art Festival Xian – invitation from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
of the People’s Republic of China, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province
Exhibition Galerie Thuillier Paris in cooperation with the Cultural Forum Paris, opening speeches by Dir. Marina Chrystoph
and Ambassador Regina Figl, UNESCO Paris T
2022 Participation: “Kunst zu Recht”, Justice Centre Vienna
Exhibition “Peace” Association Kunstschaffen
2021 For reasons of the Corona crisis, participation in art-related film projects
2020 Solo exhibition “Digital Art Axis Austria – China”. Science meets Art at the Technical University Vienna/Library
2019 Participation in the “Sponsored Visitors Program” Hong Kong invited by the Hong Kong City Government at the suggestion
of the Austrian Consulate General Hong Kong
2019 Solo exhibition/lecture at the Free University Berlin invited by the Confucius Institute Berlin
2018 Single show within the Immersive Digital Culture Experience Exhibition, Beijing, organized by THID
(Beijing Tsinghua Heritage Institute for Digitization)/Beijing and Digital Yuanming Technology Culture Co., Ltd.
2018 Exhibition at the 5th International Symposium on Cultural Heritage Conservation and Digitization (CHCD)/THID,
Beijing – “Re-member: Heritage Driven Economy” in cooperation with the Austrian Cultural Forum Beijing
2018 Solo exhibition at the International Science Forum “World Heritage”, State University of Novosibirsk, Russia
2018 Solo exhibition as part of the International Symposium at the Confucius Institute Hongkong “Authenticity and
Representation – Case Studies on Yuanmingyuan and Others” in cooperation with the Austrian Consulate General
Hong Kong and the KI Vienna
2017 Solo exhibition Albertina Vienna in the context of the gala evening on the occasion of the awarding of the Austrian
Music Theatre Prize, Opening Speaker: Dr. Andreas Kohl, Ao. Prof. Dr. Richard Trappl, KI Vienna
2017 Solo exhibition in the Museum of Chinese Garden and Landscape Architecture Beijing in the context of Garden Expo,
Show “Seeing Yuanmingyuan”, Beijing Digital Yuanming Technology Culture Co., Ltd.
2016 Presentation of the exhibition at the Beijing State Ministry of Culture as part of the overall exhibition (“The Lost
Garden” – Digital Interactive Exhibition of Yuanmingyuan, THID Beijing Tsinghua Heritage Institute for Digitization)
2016 Exhibition presentation as part of the 10th anniversary of the Confucius Institute Vienna at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna/University of Hanban, China; Opening Speech: Ao. Prof. Dr. Richard Trappl, KI Vienna
2016 Single presentation/lecture 4th International Symposium on Cultural Heritage Conservation and Digitization
(CHCD 2016) “Re-Vive” at the Tsinghua University Beijing, School of Architecture in cooperation with the
Austrian cultural form Beijing
2016 Ceremonial act 45 years of diplomatic relations between China and Austria, Austrian Embassy in
Beijing/Tsinghua University Beijing, School of Arts, Opening: BR Mag. Arnold Obermayer, Austrian
Cultural Forum Beijing
2015 First presentation World Museum Vienna, Hofburg as part of the “Confucius Institute Day 2015”, opening speech:
Secretary General Mag. Gabriele Eschig, Austrian UNESCO Commission