MODE:BLOCK

The last two years, various artists from, or with ties to, Viennese council estates were invited as part of the Gemeindebau (Austrian-German term for “council block”) Festival to show the classic council block from a different angle, as a place where creative work takes place. In 2010/11 the festival is all about fashion.

The programme of the five-month-long MODE:BLOCK, initiated by Verlag Neue Arbeit, which aims to explore and document the many different facets of fashion in Vienna’s council blocks, includes pop-up stores (BLOCK:POP-UP), workshops (BLOCK:WORKSHOP), shows (BLOCK:STYLE), lectures (BLOCK:TALKS) and an accompanying blog with photos and reports (BLOCK:WATCH). And of course also a BLOCK:PARTY.

The project launches (or launched) in November with BLOCK:WATCH, curated by Carmen Rüter, and BLOCK:POP-UP, run by Sonja Weinstabl. The remaining parts are scheduled for early 2011 and spring 2011.

Since 15 November the day-to-day fashion life in the council block, from bathrobe to prom dress and everything in between, has been documented by fashion bloggers who live in such estates in diary-like entries, which can be found under the subsection “DIARY” of BLOCK:WATCH. Teresa Hammerl from Colazione a Roma and Monika Konakova, who runs the blog Kathmography, capture fashion from the block. Moreover, over the next few weeks additional fashion bloggers and photographers will go on a tour through Vienna’s council blocks to document their stylistic diversity, while block residents have the chance to record their very own take on fashion with disposable cameras.

Starting in late November, three temporary pop-up stores in vicinity to Viennese council blocks will be set up. The first two have been confirmed to open on 27 November on Kettenbrückengasse and on 2 December on Zieglergasse. From 4 to 12 December the former will also show a special selection of the current house of boing collection by designer Sandra Bamminger.
For these pop-up stores, vacated or existing premises will get a slight makeover, the existing infrastructure will be used to its full potential and converted into fashion showrooms. The range of products will be theme-related and provided by designers from Vienna or with ties to the city.

It will be interesting to see how the MODE:BLOCK will fare in the next few months. Because next to a series of lectures and workshops, there are more exciting things in store, including the Mario Soldo-curated BLOCK:STYLE, before the boys of Tingel Tangel will throw a big BLOCK:PARTY in the style of Dave Chapelle.

Anyone who is only familiar with council blocks as they are portrayed in productions of Austria’s private TV channels, should check out the many different events to see for themselves. It will definitely be worth while. Fo shizzle!