Media Information, September 2020

Hans Kelsen and the Elegance of the Austrian Federal Constitution To mark the 100th anniversary of the Austrian Federal Constitution, the Jewish Museum is showing an exhibition dedicated to , the “architect” of the Federal Constitutional , starting on October 1. The exhibition at Museum Dorotheergasse recalls Kelsen’s life and thought between Europe and the USA, and would also like to increase public awareness of the success story of our constitution.

100 years of the Austrian Federal Constitution In 2020, the Austrian Federal Constitution celebrates its centennial. Praised by Federal President for its “elegance and beauty,” its content is hardly known and constitutional patriotism, as it is practiced in the USA, for example, is at best a marginal phenomenon in . Even less commonly known is the fact that Hans Kelsen played a major role in the drafting of this constitution. Born in Prague in 1881, Kelsen grew up in Vienna in a German-speaking Jewish family. His father, a chandelier manufacturer, designed, among other things, the lighting for Viennese synagogues. After the collapse of the monarchy, Kelsen was commissioned by State Karl Renner to work on a federal constitution for the young republic. He developed what was later referred to as the Austrian model of constitutional jurisdiction, emulated by countries around the globe. Kelsen, who was professor at the from 1918 to 1930, gained international renown particularly for his contributions to legal and political theory. In the increasingly antisemitic climate of the time, his innovative approaches were met with hostility. Kelsen already left Vienna in 1930; after several stations in Europe, he finally emigrated to the USA in 1940, where he lived until his death in 1973. Today he is regarded as one of the most important legal scholars of the 20th century.

A meringue, a Black Forest cake and a cigar become storytellers To accompany the exhibition, the Viennese comics artist Pia Plankensteiner, on behalf of the Jewish Museum Vienna, came up with a story that revolves around Kelsen’s life and the creation and development of the Austrian constitution: Kelsen’s favorite pastries – meringue and Black Forest cake – tell about Kelsen’s life in pictures and words, while a cigar – Kelsen was a passionate cigar smoker – explains the legal- and contemporary-historical connections. With plenty of wit and irony, you can learn a lot about the eventful life of Hans Kelsen in Europe and the USA, as well as about his scholarly accomplishments and the worldwide recognition that went with them. But you can also read about antisemitic prejudices, about uprooting, flight and numerous involuntary new beginnings. At the same time, this graphic novel provides information – which is no less entertaining – about the foundation of our state and our democracy: the Austrian Federal Constitution.

“Hans Kelsen and the Elegance of the Austrian Federal Constitution” can be seen from October 1, 2020 to September 12, 2021 at the Jewish Museum Vienna, a museum of Wien Holding. Appearing along with the exhibition, which was curated by Adina Seeger and designed by Capitale Wien, is a graphic novel published by Manz Verlag that costs € 19. The Jewish Museum Vienna at Dorotheergasse 11, 1010 Vienna is open Sunday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The second location, Museum Judenplatz (Judenplatz 8, 1010 Vienna), is open Sunday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (wintertime), respectively 5 p.m. (summertime). Further information can be found at www.jmw.at or [email protected].

Queries Mag.a Petra Fuchs, M.Litt., media officer Tel.: +43-1-535 04 31-1513 E-Mail: [email protected]

Photos and press material on current exhibitions can be found on the Jewish Museum Vienna homepage under www.jmw.at/de/presse.

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