05.03.2026 – 17.04.2026
Although our society and world are becoming increasingly open, citizenship still holds immense value. The exhibition Real Citizens, featuring works by Jane Mechner and Michael Garner and curated by Rodrigo Chaveiro, explores what it means to obtain citizenship in a country that is completely new to you, yet at the same time deeply rooted in your family history. Jane Mechner and Michael Garner recently obtained Austrian citizenship under §58c. Going beyond the formalities, Real Citizens deals with the complex emotional experiences involved in regaining Austrian citizenship. The exhibition attempts to concretise the exploration of one’s own identity, to give it physical form. Citizenship is often viewed solely as a legal status. Mechner and Garner attempt to make this status physically visible. Through their art, they bridge the gap between family history and contemporary reality. In times of global debates about borders and belonging, Real Citizens offers insight into what it means to come home.
Real Citizens
05.03.2026 – 17.04.2026
Austrian Cultural Forum London
28 Rutland Gate
London SW7 1PQ
www.acflondon.org
