We all see it. Winter in Vienna is not what it used to be. Childhood memories of daily snowball fights or tobogganing in the Prater are a far cry from today's reality. A once cold, icy, white, and dark season has given way to snowless months with consistently moderate temperatures.

Winter in Vienna tells the story of urban life in the age of climate change. Meteorology gives us the hard facts. From the beginning of systematic measurements in 1873 until 1990, the average temperature in January was right around -1°C. Since then, it has been over 1°C – the critical increase of 2°C climate scientists have identified as a clear and present danger.

Cold city, Dark season, Icy pleasure, White splendor: In four chapters, the show examines life in wintery Vienna over the centuries. It tells of the joys and sorrows of the winter months, from seasonal attractions to the serious differences between rich and poor in experiencing and surviving the cold. At the same time, it never loses sight of the present and its prospects for ever milder winters in Vienna.

Against the backdrop of sentimental representations of winters past and the reality of the present, the exhibit ultimately asks: What does climate change mean for Vienna, Europe, and the world?

(Curator: Lisa Noggler)