Gothic Modern
Ascending colour narrative.
The Albertina’s major autumn exhibition of 2025, entitled “GOTHIC MODERN” (19 September 2025 – 11 January 2026), presents masterpieces of Classical Modernism (around 1875 to 1925) in dialogue with significant works of medieval art. Organised in cooperation with the Finnish National Gallery in Helsinki and the National Museum of Art in Oslo, the exhibition features some 200 works from international collections. The exhibition design is by BWM.
Visitors begin their walk through the exhibition in a deep black room, where the darkness enhances the intensity of the pieces on display. As they move through the subsequent rooms, the intensity of the atmospheric shades gradually increases – from burnt umber black to cobalt green black, and then to maroon black. This progression culminates in a vibrant red (rouge foncé), which evolves into copper mountain red in the next room. A light, airy shade of blue in the final room brings the exhibition to a bright conclusion. Each room features two shades of the dominant colour. The colour transitions follow sweeping lines that echo the curves of the suspended partitions, marking the passage from one thematic section to the next.

„Two key design elements serve to structure the seven exhibition rooms: first, a powerful colour narrative on the walls, and second, the use of curved, suspended partitions to create distinct spaces.“Johann Moser
Curved suspended partitions
In each room, a curved partition is strategically placed to transform the visitors’ perception of the space. These architectural elements create a dynamic flow, subtly guiding visitors through the exhibition while sparking curiosity with glimpses of the “hidden” spaces beyond.
Reference to Gothic architecture
Johann Moser: “The exhibition design makes an abstract reference to the principles of Gothic architecture: the ascending colour narrative evokes the pursuit of light, while the dynamic spatial layout mitigates the heaviness of the rooms.”
Task
Exhibition design
Status
Completion
09/2025
Location
Albertinaplatz 1, 1010 Wien
Client
Albertina
BWM Team
Johann Moser, Luka Rados, Chiara Riccardi, Monika Heiss
Image credit
photos: eSeL.at - Lorenz Seidler