Austria will be in the Leipzig guest country
Austria is the guest country of the Leipzig Book Fair 2023 from April 27th to 30th. Under the motto “meaoiswiamia”, meaning “more than us”, the guest country project “would like to draw the attention of the international reading public to its diverse book scene with well-known authors, new literary voices and top-class publishers”. Katja Gasser, artistic director of the guest country project, provides information about the concept and the status of the preparations.
APA: Ms. Gasser, how important is the focus on Austria in Leipzig for local literature? Austrian authors and local publishers have always had a strong presence in Germany, haven’t they?
Katja Gasser: Austria’s performance is very important. One must not forget: Austria last excelled in this regard in 1995. That was a while ago, and Austria was also the guest country at the Frankfurt Book Fair, that’s another story. The strong presence you mentioned refers to the rule of authors from Austria who are under contract with German publishers. Of course, they are also of immense importance for our project, and I am very happy that we were able to convince Peter Handke and Elfriede Jelinek or Clemens Setz and Theresa Präauer – to name just a few – to also be part of our poster series, with which we will also promote our guest country appearance in Leipzig itself.
APA: How are the preparations going? Is everything according to plan?
Gasser: I recently invented the sentence for myself and found it: We are in the midst of success. And in fact I feel that way – despite all the prophecies of doom. In the meantime, we have already achieved quite a bit: dozens of top-class events, above all in Germany and also in Switzerland, for example. Or: Our podcast “Literature Talks from the Rosa Salon” is very popular, as is the cooperation project with the ORF “Archives of Writing”: both projects that accompany our guest country project for a year and are then shown again during the book fair. Quite apart from other initiatives on our social media channels…
I would like it to be understood about the variety of activities and measures we are talking about when we talk about the guest country project, for which we were able to win over a dozen cooperation partners. Of course things will get busy again in Leipzig at the end of April, but the guest country project is much more than the events during the book fair. I am also convinced that we have created a very good signpost with the claim “meaoiswiamia”: It is a work of language art, it is striking, politically explosive, and at the same time promotes dialogue – the dialogue here is not least about the irritation, about the question of what exactly that wants to be, what exactly that means. And you’re already in conversation. At its core, such a guest country appearance is an offer of dialogue, a peace-building measure, an attempt to strengthen mutual understanding, to promote and create connections that outlast the guest country moment.
APA: How is the unusual subject “meaoiswiamia” received?
Gasser: As far as I can see: very good. I also appreciate any criticism. Because it also expresses the quality of this claim: meaoiswiamia stimulates and excites. I don’t think we could have done the project any better than choosing this motto. The claim was developed for the host country by one of Austria’s most outstanding authors. At the beginning of the project I asked four very different Austrian authors to think about what we could be called for the project. When I looked through the suggestions, I immediately had a favorite and that was “meaoiswiamia” by Thomas Stangl. And I was lucky that the guest country project team, above all Gustav Soucek, the commercial manager of the project, was willing to take the risk.
APA: What highlights can you reveal?
Gasser: In my opinion, there will be a sensationally beautiful guest country stand at the fair – the artist Marko Lipuš will have a decisive influence on the aesthetics of the stand with his work “Anthem Reloaded” – his work was already part of our first long night of Austrian literature under the title “Wild Austria” in March at the Schaubühne Lindenfels in Leipzig. As far as the highlights are concerned, I can’t reveal too much because we have a publication dramaturgy, but this much can be said: It will be multifaceted, political and poetic, shrill and quiet. Large institutions such as the Austrian National Library will be there, as will the Institute for Language Arts in Vienna, the Burgtheater, as well as the literature show by Klaus Kastberger and Daniela Strigl “Roboter mit Senf”, Maria Lassnig’s graphic work, the most recent Elfriede Jelinek film, as well as the little well-known author Precious Chiebonam Nnebedum.
The heart of my programming is shaped by the insight: only an openly understood WE is sustainable, only those who think society openly and at the same time in solidarity think society in the sense of humanism and enlightenment. We definitely want to show Austria as a multilingual and multicultural country. The edge has always been closer to me than the center, stranger always more familiar than being at home. The appearance in one of its curatorial depths will probably also be shaped by this. The experimental, the avant-garde of the present and the past will have an important moment, as well as the different literary genres, last but not least drama, also the Austrian slam poetry scene and crime fiction.
APA: You are actually the head of literature on ORF television, that is, in an accompanying but critical distance to the literary scene. How has the “change of fronts” been for you so far?
Gasser: After this project I will definitely say: I learned a lot in a very short time. No further training in the world would have given me so much new insight and knowledge and skills as this position, for which I did not apply. I have decided to accept this challenge and I strive every day to deal honestly with this great responsibility. In contrast to literature, which is not in the service of anyone, in my current position I am in the service of literature, the art of our country – with heart and mind.
APA: Will it be an extraordinary year of Austrian literature presented in Leipzig? As a literary critic, which title are you particularly looking forward to?
Gasser: If you look at the spring catalogues, it’s obvious that a lot of energy was put into making the “Austrian programme” particularly dazzling, including by German publishers. I’m really looking forward to the new Dževad Karahasan “Practice in Hovering”, the new Birgit Birnbacher, the new Robert Prosser, the new Ana Marwan, the new Renate Welsh, the new Karin Peschka, I’m excited about the new Arno Geiger and many others new releases more. In any case, when it comes to Austrian literature, it will be a very, very busy spring. In general, it is outrageous how diverse, how rich, how top-class the literature of our country is – compared to our geographical smallness. Austria’s true wealth lies in its art and its literature. You can capture that again and again without any pathos. It is a pity that one notices so little of this intellectual wealth in contemporary politics.
APA: And which books do not lead without the guest country appearance?
Gasser: I have the impression that nothing was done exclusively for the performance, but that an attempt is made to show something special, because the guest country momentum will also ensure special attention for the literature, the book culture of our country. In my youthful enthusiasm I have said again and again: Anything is better than writing bad books. Today I am inclined to say: Any bad book is fine with me as long as it saves a piece of peace.
(The questions were asked by Wolfgang Huber-Lang/APA)
(SERVICE – https://gastland-leipzig23.at/)