Academy of Fine Kink – Bodies, Identities and Transformation
The “Academy of Fine Kink”, organized by the association Kunst im Keller Wien in collaboration with the Porn Film Festival Vienna, returns to the Semperdepot in Vienna for its fourth edition in 2026. Under the title “Bodies, Identities and Transformation”, the exhibition presents interdisciplinary artistic positions dealing with bodies, identities, and sexual self-determination. In cooperation with the Porn Film Festival Vienna, it creates a space that celebrates sex positivity, body politics, and aesthetic diversity while critically responding to the current neo-conservative turn.
The exhibition revolves around three central axes: Corporeality, Identity, and Transformation.
Corporeality is understood here as a direct, often explicit engagement with physical expression, desire, pain, and ritual. Works that place the body at their center question normative ideas of beauty, gender, and morality. Explicit representations are used not for mere provocation but as artistic tools to reflect on social taboos and open new perspectives on physicality.
The axis of Identity focuses on diversity, queer self-determination, and the deconstruction of gender roles. Artistic positions demonstrate that identity is performative, fluid, and negotiable, while also addressing the violence that normative societies exert on nonconforming bodies and sexualities. The exhibition thus becomes a political statement against discrimination, homophobia, and the idealization of heteronormative norms.
Transformation is explored as both a physical and a social process. Many of the presented works approach transformation as a subversive act that challenges existing structures. By combining artistic experimentation, sexual openness, and political awareness, the exhibition creates a field in which change is celebrated as a creative and emancipatory act.
The Academy of Fine Kink embraces an interdisciplinary approach: painting, sculpture, photography, video, performance, sound, and installation art intersect in a multifaceted presentation. This variety allows the themes of body, desire, and identity to be experienced from multiple perspectives — from intimate, introspective moments to radical, public provocations. The explicit depiction of sexual practices, fetishes, and non-normative bodies is not intended to shock but to serve as a means of critical, political, and social reflection.
The exhibition explicitly positions itself against neo-conservative narratives and Trumpism, which often frame sexuality as dangerous or threatening. Instead, it advocates for a sex-positive, inclusive, and self-determined approach. In collaboration with the Porn Film Festival Vienna, it creates a diverse program of visual art, performance, and cinematic exploration that blurs the boundaries between eroticism, art, and political activism.
Complementing the exhibition, workshops, artist talks, and performances invite direct dialogue between artists, visitors, and professionals, fostering inclusive engagement with the exhibition’s themes. The Semperdepot provides the ideal spatial context — its monumental architecture accommodates both intimate works and large-scale installations, allowing visitors to experience the artworks in a choreography of encounter and reflection.
The Academy of Fine Kink aims to foster interdisciplinary, daring, and socially critical works; to create spaces for diversity and inclusion; and to spark public discourse around desire, power, identity, and transformation. The exhibition demonstrates that bodies and sexuality are political, art is subversive, and transformation is possible.
Conclusion:
“Bodies, Identities and Transformation” invites audiences to celebrate diversity, pleasure, and self-determination while critically questioning societal norms. The exhibition merges aesthetic innovation, sex-positive politics, and social reflection into a sensual and political experience.
Important informations:
- Sex-positive, but not sexist. Porn-positive, but not conservative bland mainstream. Body-positive, but never harmful.
- Works must be set up on April 12th or 13th between 10 am and 7 pm.
- Dismantling should take place on April 21th between 10 pm and 6 pm.
- Tools and materials cannot be provided for setup, and assistance during setup is limited. If your work is reaching us from outer Austria, Vienna, we will set it up for you.
- If you require equipment (screen, projector, speakers), please indicate this. We have limited availability.
- Material costs and Artist fees cannot be reimbursed. There is no budget 🙁
Please only submit if you agree to all of these rules.
Submission
✨ Bodies, Identities & Transformation ✨
📍 Semperdepot, Vienna
📅 Exhibition: April 14–20, 2026
👩🎨 Organized by Kunst im Keller Wien
🤝 In cooperation with the Porn Film Festival Vienna
We’re looking for artists exploring bodies, identities, sexuality & transformation — sensual, bold, and critical.
💥 Sex-positive, but not sexist.
💥 Porn-positive, but not bland mainstream.
💥 Body-positive, but never harmful.
Deadline: 🕛 Dec 31, 2025, 23:59 CET
Setup: Apr 12-13 | Dismantling: Apr 21 (10pm–6am)
🧰 No tools or materials provided – sorry, no budget 😅
📦 Works from outside Vienna will be installed by us.
📺 Limited equipment available (projectors, screens, speakers).
💌 Participation open to everyone!
👉 Submit ONE PDF (max. 5 MB)
- short text about your work
- medium, size/length
- image or sketch
- expected postage costs
📎 SECOND PDF (max. 10 MB): CV + portfolio
📷 Please include a photo of your artwork & yourself (can be changed later).
📩 info@kunst-im-keller.at
Curated by Jasmin Hagendorfer and Lars* Kollros