In her exhibition “The Happiness of Others” – Becoming Viennese Edition, Elsa Martini presents both existing and new works from her ongoing series of the same name. The show delves into the complex intersections of memory, collective trauma, and family narratives, framed by the influence of historical and contemporary political systems.

 

Structured in three parts, the exhibition unfolds across the gallery’s distinct spaces.

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The presentation combines images, objects, and characteristic houseplants from Austria, Italy, and Albania, creating an immersive installation that evokes domestic social memory and allows the audience to engage with the narratives on multiple levels.

 

Parts I and II center on women and children in Austria and Italy who were not directly involved in World War II but were closely connected to men serving in military roles. Drawing on materials from private archives, these works explore themes of guilt, silence, moral ambivalence, repression, and escape.

 

Part III turns its attention to private family rituals in socialist and post-socialist societies, using personal and intimate stories to reveal how transgenerational trauma persists despite social and political change.

 

Created in Vienna, the Becoming Viennese Edition engages with the city’s rich psychoanalytic tradition, pursuing a deeper exploration — and potential healing — of personal and collective trauma. The works confront unspoken wounds and unresolved histories, examining silence, moral ambiguity, family, and childhood. By juxtaposing historical documentation with new paintings, Martini creates a dialogue between the recorded past and contemporary artistic reflection.

- Elsa Martini

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Statement by the Gallery: “We are delighted to present The Happiness of Others – Becoming Viennese Edition by Elsa Martini,” says Ralph Overbeck, founder of the gallery smart fox. “Through her thoughtful exploration of memory, trauma, and family history, Martini creates a powerful dialogue between history and the present, transforming personal stories into spaces for reflection and perhaps quiet healing of collective trauma.”