There is no universal definition of art. The aim of this exhibition is to examine different understandings of art as both an idea and a practice, both in Austria and Detroit. The starting point is that art is, among other things, about making "images" and that in making these images, we also make ourselves and express our culture. Understanding the world means understanding how art is constructed in particular cultures and how people are fashioned (economically, racially, sexually) by the images that surround them.

  Our place in the world is determined by how we see it. Seeing the world as conscious beings means understanding how images are constructed in particular ways and at particular times. In making art, we also make ourselves. Images enable us to interact with our environment and to structure it according to a variety of ideas, feelings, fantasies and fears. Art contributes vitally to our sense of who we are and to our daily negotiations with the world.         

  Practical aspects of these included artworks and performances are explored with close reference to the individual artists and to various genres to highlight the specific features of different materials and techniques, types and composition, and the use of color and light.