VIENNA.- On 24 June Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka inaugurated the artistic covering of the Ringturm, designed by Czech artist Ivan Exner. Thomas Drozda, Austrian Federal Minister for Arts and Culture, also attended the ceremony.

As part of an initiative organised by Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein, in summer 2016 the Ringturm will be transformed into a monumental art installation for the ninth time. Unburdened, the work of artist Ivan Exner, will adorn the building on the banks of the Danube Canal for the entire summer. The piece also marks the 25th anniversary of Czech Group company Kooperativa pojišťovna, a.s., Vienna Insurance Group.

A special ceremony celebrating the completion of the giant canvas took place on Friday 24 June on the 20th floor of the Ringturm. Bohuslav Sobotka, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, opened this year’s artistic covering: “I’m very pleased, and at the same time we are also proud that the jury chose Czech artist Ivan Exner to design this year’s covering of the Ringturm. The image of the ‘unburdened boy’ underlines the security and the cordial relations between the Czech Republic and Austria at the heart of Central Europe, both of which are extremely important to me personally,” he explained.

“The covering of the Ringturm is now a Viennese tradition, and each year a new work of art leaves its mark on the capital’s urban landscape. The covering is the perfect symbol of what art can achieve: building bridges, bringing together countries and peoples, and this year further enhancing our diverse relations with the Czech Republic,” emphasised Austrian Minister for Arts and Culture, Thomas Drozda.

“The foundations for Kooperativa, the first private insurance company in the former Communist bloc, were laid 25 years ago. This year’s covering of the Ringturm not only marks this jubilee, it also reflects the Group’s close links with the Czech Republic and our Czech employees,” commented Günter Geyer, Chairman of the Managing Board of Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein, the Vienna Insurance Group’s main shareholder.

Besides these high-level political representatives, a number of prominent figures from the worlds of politics, business and the arts attended the event at the invitation of Günter Geyer, including: H.E. Jan Sechter (Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Austria), Tomáš Prouza, MBA (Secretary of State of the Czech Republic for European Affairs), Václav Kolaja (Deputy Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic), Markus Figl (District Chairperson of the first district of Vienna), Alexander Grubmayr (Ambassador of the Republic of Austria in Prague), Vladimir Dlouhý (President of the Czech Economic Chamber), Peter Schöber (Managing Director, ORF III) and Johanna Schwanberg (Director, Dom Museum Wien).

The event was also attended by Martin Diviš (General Manager, Kooperativa pojišťovna, a.s., Vienna Insurance Group), Klaus Stadler (Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein) and Elisabeth Stadler (General Manager, Vienna Insurance Group).

"Unburdened” by Ivan Exner
Unburdened portrays a boy on a hill flying kites, with an endless horizon stretching out in front of him. The same goes for the people of Vienna: the Ringturm has been replaced by open seas in the heart of this heavily built-up urban space. “The boy with the kite, he’s carefree, curious and enjoying ‘his’ play time. The relationship between the lively child and the horizon highlights the essential idea of the picture. The vertical form of the child represents youth. It symbolises growth, while the horizon embodies vastness beyond reach. The boy’s relationship with the horizon is a sacred path through life – from childhood to adulthood,” in the words of the artist behind Unburdened, Ivan Exner, who was born in Pardubice in 1960. A graduate of the Prague Academy and resident of the city, Exner has collaborated with VIG Group company Kooperativa on numerous art projects since 1993, and is a member of the board of trustees for the Group’s art collection in the Czech capital.

The 4,000 square metre artwork – comprising a total of 30 printed netting sheets, each around 3m wide and up to 63m long – will adorn the facade of the Ringturm until September 2016.

Architektur im Ringturm: Prague Castle and Plečnik
To accompany the artistic covering of the Ringturm, Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein’s Architektur im Ringturm series will focus on the unique architectural features of Prague Castle. The exhibition concentrates on the work of architect Josef Plečnik between 1920 and 1934. Plečnik’s designs at Prague Castle are considered a unique achievement in international architectural history, distinguished by a specific and authentic architectural language. The exhibition is open from 27 June to 23 September at the exhibition centre in the Ringturm. Admission is free.