March 28, 2025, to April 12, 2026
Never Final!
The Evolving Museum
Never Final! The Evolving Museum
April 26, 1979, marked a milestone for what is now mumok – the Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien: the collections of the former 20er Haus were significantly expanded through extensive, art historically important permanent loans from Peter and Irene Ludwig of Aachen. This collection increase also necessitated additional exhibition space. Alongside the 20er Haus, the Museum of Modern Art opened in the Palais Liechtenstein.
In 1981, the founding of the Austrian Ludwig Foundation by then Minister of Science Hertha Firnberg and the Ludwigs represented another major step.
The Dieter Ronte Era (1979–1989)
This exhibition focuses on the transformation of the institution under the directorship of Dieter Ronte (1979–1989). Representative insights into the heterogeneous development of the collection are set against the cultural policy framework and programmatic decisions of the decade. During this period, the museum laid the groundwork for collaborations with private collectors, took on an active socio political role, and pursued strategic purchases that paved the way for the collection’s key focal areas in the following decades.
“Never Final” – a phrase coined by Hertha Firnberg – continues to define mumok as a dynamic site of ongoing transformation. In the exhibition, this idea unfolds through an open format featuring interactive furniture and dialogue spaces that present the museum as a platform for collective inquiry, learning, and research.
Curated by Marie Therese Hochwartner and Dieter Ronte
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01 Lassnig
01 Lassnig
Maria Lassnig
Learning to Fly, 1976
177 x 127 cm
Tempera on canvas
mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, acquired in 1980
© Maria Lassnig Stiftung
Maria Lassnig
Learning to Fly, 1976
177 x 127 cm
Tempera on canvas
mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, acquired in 1980
© Maria Lassnig Stiftung
02 Spoerri
02 Spoerri
Daniel Spoerri
Hahn's Supper, 1964
200 x 200 x 38 cm
Various objects mounted on wooden board
mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, Former Hahn Collection, Cologne, acquired in 1978
© Bildrecht, Wien 2025
Daniel Spoerri
Hahn's Supper, 1964
200 x 200 x 38 cm
Various objects mounted on wooden board
mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, Former Hahn Collection, Cologne, acquired in 1978
© Bildrecht, Wien 2025
03 Frankenthaler
03 Frankenthaler
Helen Frankenthaler
Salome, 1978
239 x 409.8 x 3 cm
Acryl auf Leinwand / Acrylic on canvas
mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, On loan from the Austrian Ludwig Foundation, since 1981
© 2025 Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, Inc./Bildrecht, Wien 2025
Helen Frankenthaler
Salome, 1978
239 x 409.8 x 3 cm
Acryl auf Leinwand / Acrylic on canvas
mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, On loan from the Austrian Ludwig Foundation, since 1981
© 2025 Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, Inc./Bildrecht, Wien 2025
04 Kupka
04 Kupka
František Kupka
The Yellow Spot, 1918
81.5 x 65 x 2 cm
Oil on canvas
mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, On loan from the Austrian Ludwig Foundation, since 1981
© Bildrecht, Wien 2025
František Kupka
The Yellow Spot, 1918
81.5 x 65 x 2 cm
Oil on canvas
mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, On loan from the Austrian Ludwig Foundation, since 1981
© Bildrecht, Wien 2025
05 Eddy
05 Eddy
Don Eddy
Untitled (Volkswagen), 1971
125.3 x 168.5 x 5 cm
Acrylic on canvas
mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, On loan from the Austrian Ludwig Foundation, since 1991
© Don Eddy
Don Eddy
Untitled (Volkswagen), 1971
125.3 x 168.5 x 5 cm
Acrylic on canvas
mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, On loan from the Austrian Ludwig Foundation, since 1991
© Don Eddy
06 Schwarzkogler_Kindler
06 Schwarzkogler_Kindler
Rudolf Schwarzkogler
Walter Kindler
Selection from the 1st action "Hochzeit" 6.2.1965, 1965 (1977)
60 x 50 cm
Color photograph
mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, acquired in 1987
© Österreichische Ludwigstiftung
Photo: © mumok
Rudolf Schwarzkogler
Walter Kindler
Selection from the 1st action "Hochzeit" 6.2.1965, 1965 (1977)
60 x 50 cm
Color photograph
mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, acquired in 1987
© Österreichische Ludwigstiftung
Photo: © mumok
07 Brus
07 Brus
Günter Brus
Fortezza d'Asolo from the series: La Croce del Veneto, 1973-1974
130 x 89.5 x 3 cm
Mixed media on wood
mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, acquired in 1984
© Estate of Günter Brus
Günter Brus
Fortezza d'Asolo from the series: La Croce del Veneto, 1973-1974
130 x 89.5 x 3 cm
Mixed media on wood
mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, acquired in 1984
© Estate of Günter Brus
08 Exhibition view
08 Exhibition view
Exhibition view: Never Final! The Evolving Museum, March 28, 2025, to April 12, 2026
Eva Aeppli, L’Aube, 1960
Eva Aeppli, Les Juges, 1967
Photo: Klaus Pichler © mumok
Exhibition view: Never Final! The Evolving Museum, March 28, 2025, to April 12, 2026
Eva Aeppli, L’Aube, 1960
Eva Aeppli, Les Juges, 1967
Photo: Klaus Pichler © mumok
09 Exhibition view
09 Exhibition view
Exhibition view: Never Final! The Evolving Museum, March 28, 2025, to April 12, 2026
Joseph Beuys, Basisraum Nasse Wäsche, 1979
Robert Bechtle, Berkeley Pinto, 1976
Don Eddy, Untitled (Volkswagen), 1971
Carlos Cruz-Diez, Physichromie Nr. 417, 1968
Günther Uecker, Nagelrelief, 1969
Photo: Klaus Pichler © mumok
Exhibition view: Never Final! The Evolving Museum, March 28, 2025, to April 12, 2026
Joseph Beuys, Basisraum Nasse Wäsche, 1979
Robert Bechtle, Berkeley Pinto, 1976
Don Eddy, Untitled (Volkswagen), 1971
Carlos Cruz-Diez, Physichromie Nr. 417, 1968
Günther Uecker, Nagelrelief, 1969
Photo: Klaus Pichler © mumok
10 Exhibition view
10 Exhibition view
Exhibition view: Never Final! The Evolving Museum, March 28, 2025, to April 12, 2026
Niki de Saint Phalle, Tea Party, ou Le Thé chez Angelina, 1971
Hermann Nitsch, Kleiner Existenz-Altar, 1960
Arnulf Rainer, Übermalung violett, 1961
Arnulf Rainer, Kreuz, 1980
Photo: Klaus Pichler © mumok
Exhibition view: Never Final! The Evolving Museum, March 28, 2025, to April 12, 2026
Niki de Saint Phalle, Tea Party, ou Le Thé chez Angelina, 1971
Hermann Nitsch, Kleiner Existenz-Altar, 1960
Arnulf Rainer, Übermalung violett, 1961
Arnulf Rainer, Kreuz, 1980
Photo: Klaus Pichler © mumok
11 Exhibition view
11 Exhibition view
Exhibition view: Never Final! The Evolving Museum, March 28, 2025, to April 12, 2026
Richard Estes, Bus Window, 1969
Kiyoshi Awazu, Die Frau von Hanaoka Seishu, 1970
Brigitta Fritz, Begegnungen, 1981
Richard Kriesche, Ohne Titel, o.D.
Susan Etkin, Arcanum I + II, 1988
Loys Egg, Spritzer, 1973
Maria Lassnig, Fliegen lernen, 1976
Maria Lassnig, Pfingstselbstporträt, 1969
Photo: Klaus Pichler © mumok
Exhibition view: Never Final! The Evolving Museum, March 28, 2025, to April 12, 2026
Richard Estes, Bus Window, 1969
Kiyoshi Awazu, Die Frau von Hanaoka Seishu, 1970
Brigitta Fritz, Begegnungen, 1981
Richard Kriesche, Ohne Titel, o.D.
Susan Etkin, Arcanum I + II, 1988
Loys Egg, Spritzer, 1973
Maria Lassnig, Fliegen lernen, 1976
Maria Lassnig, Pfingstselbstporträt, 1969
Photo: Klaus Pichler © mumok
12 Exhibition view
12 Exhibition view
Exhibition view: Never Final! The Evolving Museum, March 28, 2025, to April 12, 2026
Nancy Graves, Fifty Hair Bones and Sun Disk (To the students of the Aachener Werkkunstschule), 1971
Photo: Klaus Pichler © mumok
Exhibition view: Never Final! The Evolving Museum, March 28, 2025, to April 12, 2026
Nancy Graves, Fifty Hair Bones and Sun Disk (To the students of the Aachener Werkkunstschule), 1971
Photo: Klaus Pichler © mumok
13 Exhibition view
13 Exhibition view
Exhibition view: Never Final! The Evolving Museum, March 28, 2025, to April 12, 2026
Rudolf Schwarzkogler, Ohne Titel (Sigmund-Freud-Bild), 1965
Rudolf Schwarzkogler, Ohne Titel, 1962
Richard Estes, Bus Window, 1969
Kiyoshi Awazu, Die Frau von Hanaoka Seishu, 1970
Loys Egg, Spritzer, 1973
Maria Lassnig, Fliegen lernen, 1976
Maria Lassnig, Pfingstselbstporträt, 1969
Janis Provisor, Glen Park, 1981
Ursula, Bei den Phäaken, 1974
Photo: Klaus Pichler © mumok
Exhibition view: Never Final! The Evolving Museum, March 28, 2025, to April 12, 2026
Rudolf Schwarzkogler, Ohne Titel (Sigmund-Freud-Bild), 1965
Rudolf Schwarzkogler, Ohne Titel, 1962
Richard Estes, Bus Window, 1969
Kiyoshi Awazu, Die Frau von Hanaoka Seishu, 1970
Loys Egg, Spritzer, 1973
Maria Lassnig, Fliegen lernen, 1976
Maria Lassnig, Pfingstselbstporträt, 1969
Janis Provisor, Glen Park, 1981
Ursula, Bei den Phäaken, 1974
Photo: Klaus Pichler © mumok
14 Exhibition view
14 Exhibition view
Exhibition view: Never Final! The Evolving Museum, March 28, 2025, to April 12, 2026
Photo: Klaus Pichler © mumok
Exhibition view: Never Final! The Evolving Museum, March 28, 2025, to April 12, 2026
Photo: Klaus Pichler © mumok
The images may be used free of charge only in the context of your current reporting about our program, only in connection with mumok-related events, and only with the proper material
credits. No image shall be cropped, manipulated, overwritten, distorted, or altered in any manner without the artist’s consent.
Katharina Murschetz
T:+43-1-525 00-1400
F:+43 1 52500-1300
katharina.murschetz@mumok.at
Katharina Kober
T:+43-1-525 00-1309
F:+43 1 52500-1300
katharina.kober@mumok.at
Published on December 5, 2024
© mumok – museum moderner kunst stiftung ludwig wien