It’s a fixture of Vienna’s youth scene: Zwidemu. The funny-sounding word – an acronym of ZWIschen DEn MUseen (Between the Museums) – is the informal designation of the Maria-Theresien-Platz, the square between the Museums of Art History and Natural History on Vienna’s Ringstrasse.

At Zwidemu, young people get a respite from school, parents, and the drudgery of everyday life. They chill out, get high, and find a sense of belonging. But the neo-baroque ensemble had to be conquered first. Young people began to occupy the space about 15 years ago, breaking a long-standing rule that had kept the manicured greens off-limits for decades. This youthful appropriation continued a tradition of informal takeovers, including the famous skirmishes that broke out in 1979 over the use of the Burggarten next to the Hofburg.

Things were not quite as dramatic when it came to Zwidemu’s occupation. And this day, there reigns a kind of laissez-faire, with school children, students, and tourists hanging out amidst left-wing activists, right-wing agitators, and commercial vendors. Zwidemu is like Vienna as a whole, a place in constant transition, socio-economically as well as politically.

The exhibition Zwidemu: Between party and protest sheds light on the various facets of this intriguing place. What is its composition? What role did beer bans, cannabis fairs and Facebook groups play in its constitution? And what significance does the site have today? The Startgalerie assembles works by young Viennese artists that probe Zwidemu’s history and current state. They encourage reflection on the politics of public space and the role of youth culture in the city.