Oberes Belvedere

The 1873 Vienna World’s Fair Revisited

Historical photo of Egyptian mosque and Japanese garden at the Vienna World's Fair
Wiener Photographen-Association, Wien, 1873 © MAK
Historical photo of Egyptian mosque and Japanese garden at the Vienna World's Fair

Egypt and Japan as Europe’s "Orient"

28 June - 22 October 2023

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Vienna World's Fair in 1873, the special exhibition illuminates a critical aspect of this international prestige show: the "Orient" at the Vienna World's Fair as a construct of 19th-century Orientalism. Focusing on Egypt and Japan, which were often assigned to the "Orient" in terms of cultural geography according to the understanding of the time, different facets of this phenomenon are shown.

The enthusiasm for the Orient at that time found its way into the applied arts, and the emergence of the MAK collection is closely linked to the Vienna World's Fair. Japan, in particular, presented itself in 1873 with many works of art, part of which went as a donation to the k.k. Austrian Museum of Art and Industry, now the MAK.
Japan officially presented itself at the World's Fair in Vienna for the very first time. Some pieces were made in Japan especially for the show according to European taste, while other exhibits shown were antiques.

In addition to such items, "Vienna World's Fair 1873 Revisited" features historical photographs - for example, of the Egyptian pavilion, which was one of the most spectacular on the grounds. Not to be missed are a copy of the wall painting of the tomb of Prince Chnumhetep II and the "Arabian Room.
Designed by the Austro-Czech architect Franz Schmoranz, who was jointly responsible for the presentation of Egypt at the Vienna World's Fair, the room, with elements from the 1873 Expo, was permanently installed in the Museum of Art and Industry from 1883 to 1931 and has since been closed to the public in its entirety. The room has now been largely reconstructed.

Venue

MAK - Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna

MAK Design Labor
Stubenring 5
1010 Wien

Tickets & Info

Current Dates

  • Thu. 05 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 06 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 07 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 08 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 10 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 11 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 12 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 13 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 14 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 15 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
All dates

All Dates

October

  • Thu. 05 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 06 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 07 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 08 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 10 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 11 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 12 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 13 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 14 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 15 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 17 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 18 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 19 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 20 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 21 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 22 Oct 2023, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Fewer dates