SHOWING STYRIA

With the first edition of SHOWING STYRIA, the province of Styria launched a future-oriented biennial exhibition format in 2021 with the aim of addressing current social issues.

The second SHOWING STYRIA is dedicated to the „Diversity of Life“ from April 2023. The main venue is the Herberstein Animal World, which has been part of the Universalmuseum Joanneum since 2022. And this time, too, SHOWING STYRIA is supplemented by a mobile exhibition element. 

Under the title "Diversity of Life", SHOWING STYRIA 2023 deals with the fascination, the importance and the threat of biodiversity in nature in a new House of Biodiversity and with natural sites in the Herberstein Animal World as well as in the adjacent Feistritzklamm nature reserve. Thus a very important topic is taken up: the meaning and thus the necessity of the preservation of the diversity of species at the example of Styria.

A mobile exhibition element designed by Alexander Kada also illuminates the theme of the SHOWING STYRIA from an artistic perspective in 2023: The mobile Pavilion in Vienna opened on 22.03.2023 (duration: 23.03.–03.04.2023). Since 01.04.2023 it spans the arc from the regional to the outer space in Herberstein. 

The Department of Natural History at the Universalmuseum Joanneum and Herberstein Animal World are in charge of the conception of SHOWING STYRIA 2023.

Nature holds an incredibly fascinating and impressive diversity, which is shown in a very special way in the province of Styria. "Diversity of life" is therefore a deliberately chosen theme for the continuation of SHOWING STYRIA, which was launched in 2021. After all, SHOWING STYRIA is a great declaration of love for our province. In 2021, the goal was a kind of self-reflection of everything Styrian, of our country, of the Styrians in the "exhibition of the country", which - despite the pandemic and the associated restrictions - could be realized very successfully. It was designed as a combination of scientific and cultural debate; biennially, i.e. every two years, we now want to continue this format.

The second edition of the STEIERMARK SCHAU is now planned for 2023 and I am pleased that we are able to present a highly topical, future-oriented theme. We are dedicating the STEIERMARK SCHAU 2023 to the "diversity of life" and want to proudly show how colorful and biologically diverse our beautiful homeland is. Especially now, when the challenges of all generations in dealing with the living environments of humans and animals are greater than ever before and we (have to) think about natural resources more than ever, we want to give our focus to the diversity of life. The changes to our planet are brought home to us on a daily basis.  We encounter climate change in countless areas - from the Dachstein glacier to the vineyards, in endangered or already extinct species or extreme weather events with unusual severity. Therefore, the STEIERMARK SCHAU 2023 should not only be a declaration of love to our homeland in all its beauty and colorfulness, but equally a mission. A mission to protect and preserve the unique diversity of life.

The Herberstein Animal World is the predestined location for the presentation of the STEIERMARK SHOW 2023 "Diversity of Life". On the one hand, one can not only observe the diversity of life in the wonderful ambience of the zoo, but it is also located directly at the unique European nature reserve Feistritzklamm. In Herberstein, the diversity of life thus experiences an additional cumulation.

Of course, a STEIERMARK SHOW cannot reverse climate change or bring extinct species back to life. But it can shake us up and make us aware that we are all, each one of us, part of a big whole and that our actions can therefore also be part of a turnaround. Because nothing less than our future is at stake.

Christopher Drexler, Governor of Styria

Even when Archduke Johann of Austria founded the Joanneum as the "Innerösterreichisches Nationalmuseum" in 1811, his love of nature was one of the most important driving forces. An educational institution with a natural science orientation was to be the first public museum in Austria - we still feel committed to this idea today.

In the second SHOWING STYRIA we can take up one of the most urgent problems of our time and make it more comprehensible: the loss of biodiversity. Since the incorporation of the Herberstein Animal World into the Universalmuseum Joanneum, we also have the best possible location for an exhibition like this. Because there, too, the diversity of life is shown in all its splendor and amazes visitors young and old. This should also be possible with the SHOWING STYRIA, because when we perceive the beauty of nature and realize that we are a part of it and that it forms the basis of our lives, its protection becomes non-negotiable.

The show with numerous interactive elements, natural sites and the mobile pavilion is groundbreaking in terms of modern mediation concepts and innovations. And we will need both if we as a museum are to continue to play an active role in the public discourse concerning our environment.

Marko Mele, Scientific Director Universalmuseum Joanneum

Tierwelt Herberstein attracts 250,000 visitors every year. As an animal, nature and species conservation institution, we are committed to species conservation and participate in more than 20 domestic and international conservation breeding programs and species protection projects. I consider SHOWING STYRIA a good opportunity to expand our educational mission. The more people - especially children and young people - visit Herberstein Animal World and the House of Biodiversity, the better we will succeed in awakening an understanding for flora and fauna and the individual species.

So it's very much about raising awareness and making people aware of what they're up against: in our case, that's almost 700 animals that you can experience in Herberstein in a natural environment.

Alexia Getzinger, Manager Tierwelt Herberstein