Interview / Salvatore Viviano / Version 4

Salvatore Viviano: What is the One Work Gallery?

 Salvatore Viviano: The One Work Gallery is, as the name suggests, an art gallery that showcases only one artwork at a time.

SV: What else?

SV: Exactly. I opened the space on Getreidemarkt in Vienna in May 2014 because, at that moment, I wanted to do something important. I simply wanted to commit to a project for more than just a few hours.

SV: Are you generally someone who doesn’t feel „committed“?

SV: Absolutely. Well, actually, I do, but I’m more like Søren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, who, as my philosophy professor in Palermo used to say, „decide not to have to vote” I stand by this stance—then again, I don’t… OMG, I really am like Kierkegaard! Anyway, I do stick to my decisions once I make them.

SV: Okay… so, what makes the One Work Gallery more special than other galleries? Aside from the fact that it only exhibits one artwork at a time.

SV: Good question. The gallery doesn’t really have a program. The program emerges through the works in a beautifully random way. I meet an artist, hear about them, or see a piece of theirs somewhere—physically or virtually. Then, I try to meet them and propose an exhibition. And I only have „solo shows“, which is usually never the case with galleries (chuckles).

SV: True. You mean a solo show with just one piece, right?

SV: Yes. A piece can also consist of multiple works. An installation, for example, is one work made up of „several“ works. I’ve had a few installations in the gallery, and people always asked me, „Oh… are you cheating? I see multiple works.“ And that, dear friends, is the explanation that an installation is a single artwork…

SV: How high is the level of frustration and joy in running a gallery as an artist?

SV: Very high and very high. Being an artist often means not having a lot of money. For the gallery’s day-to-day operations, that means not having the funds for transport costs to bring in works from abroad. That’s a huge frustration, yes. But on the other hand, the joy of running an exhibition space as an artist is faaar greater than the frustration. It’s so much fun! Choosing the work, discussing with the artists how to present it, preparing the show, welcoming guests, and, hopefully, selling the piece! It’s a game, and I love games. I’m an artist. And now I’m also a gallery owner. But I’m also the director, the gallery assistant, the PR department, and the cleaning staff. That’s exhausting, too, because I have to deal with myself all the time. I should fire myself one day.

SV: Do you sell often?

SV: That depends on what often means to you.

SV: Do you consider your gallery project a success? Warning: An answer like, „That depends on what success means to you,“ is not accepted (laughs).

SV: I think it’s a success in terms of the result. I wanted to inject some energy into a somewhat sleepy city like Vienna and its art scene.

SV: Are you saying that the art scene in Vienna is sleepy?

SV: Yes, I said that. But it’s not like that anymore. I opened the gallery in 2014. Now, three years later, the scene has completely changed because many new galleries have emerged, some major ones have closed or restructured, and new off-spaces have popped up on every corner.

SV: Are you implying that this all happened because you started?

SV: No, you said that.

SV: But in a way, you did say that.

SV: Okay, now I have to ask you a question: „How do you like my gallery?“

SV: I like it a lot. So, moving on. Do you have any anecdotes to share?

SV: Oh yes… A few days before the opening, while I was painting the walls, I felt like someone was staring at me through the glass door from the street. I turned around, and it was Marina Abramović looking at me. Can I get an Amen?

SV: AMEN.

SV: Another story. You know that artists often have big egos, or rather, that they are very self-focused.

SV: I know what you mean.

SV: Exactly. So, one day, during an exhibition opening, with a crowd of people there, an artist whom I had invited for the next show—after the one we were currently celebrating—pulled out a measuring tape. Can you imagine? He started measuring the gallery space right in the middle of the reception because he realized he didn’t have the gallery’s floor plan??? I love that, but I also hate it. Just Artists…

SV: But you’re one of them.

SV: Yes, but I have manners. I’m Italian, and before landing in Vienna, I lived in Paris for ten years. That helps (laughs).

SV: Speaking of manners, how do you deal with Austria’s globally famous rudeness?

SV: I don’t.

SV: You don’t deal with it at all? How is that possible?

SV: I try to avoid it. And if it gets too much, I yell at them and tell them how rude and tasteless they are, that they should get a life and a style coach, and maybe I might give them the finger and shout the „F“ word at them. Especially on a bike—I hate Austrian car drivers. They all think they work for the police. They love to point out your mistakes and tell you what rules you have to follow. There’s a „small“ authority problem in this country, obviously… Just look at the last elections… but that’s another story…

SV: So, you don’t like living in Vienna?

SV: Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE living in Vienna! But sometimes, I hate it too. It goes both ways. Overall, though, it’s a great city, and I’m grateful and happy to be here.

SV: Back to the gallery. Are you planning to close it?

SV: I think the gallery will already be closed by the time this is published. I mean, the space will be closed, but the activities will continue in collaboration with other venues, projects, etc.

SV: That’s what everyone says when they close a space.

SV: I know, but I can’t always be super original.

SV: What’s next? Rumor has it you’re working on a book. Is that true?

SV: Well, if you really want to know… It’s about… (phone rings)… Sorry, that was my publisher. I can’t tell you. The only thing I can say is that after the summer break, you’ll hear about it as soon as you go online.

SV: I’ll make sure to do that. I should follow you on Instagram right away. Thank you so much for your time; it was a pleasure to meet and talk with you.

SV: The pleasure is mine, and I feel like I’ve known you for a long time…

SV: Who told you that? I haven’t talked to anyone about this yet. I mean… I’m pretty sure…

 SV: Too late, darling. So, tell me, what’s it about?

SV: Same here. Are you on Tinder too?

www.salvatoreviviano.com