Editor’s Note
This article provides a glimpse into the “Vienna Style” exhibition in Tokyo, showcasing the evolution of design from the Biedermeier period to the turn of the 20th century. For those interested in art history and Viennese culture, it offers a concise overview of the event’s key themes and venue details.
The exhibition “Vienna Style: Biedermeier and the Fin de Siècle – Design for Living, Correspondence from the Theater City of Vienna” has opened at the Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art. It will run until December 17. This report details the scenes from the venue.
From the late 19th to early 20th century, Vienna established its own distinct modern style. Austrian architect Otto Wagner advocated for a “practical style” that emphasized utility and rationality. Resonating with this philosophy, his disciples, including Josef Hoffmann, propelled Viennese fin-de-siècle design, characterized by geometric and architectural forms, achieving a functional beauty that realized both practicality and comfort.
The background to this fin-de-siècle design innovation lies in a return to the “Biedermeier style,” an architectural style from the first half of the 19th century. The high quality of craftsmanship, original design free from imitation, and affinity for natural motifs were praised by fin-de-siècle designers as the “starting point for modern residential culture.” Thus, by consciously inheriting past heritage and referencing it as a formal foundation while developing forms more suited to the times, Vienna acquired its unique “Vienna Style.”
This exhibition focuses on these two characteristic eras of Vienna—”Biedermeier” and the “Turn of the Century”—showcasing approximately 270 diverse works, including silverware, ceramics, glass, jewelry, dresses, and furniture.
Vienna Style: Biedermeier and the Fin de Siècle – Design for Living, Correspondence from the Theater City of Vienna
Period: [First Term] October 4 – November 11, 2025 / [Second Term] November 13 – December 17, 2025
Venue: Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art
Address: 4F Panasonic Tokyo Shiodome Building, 1-5-1 Higashi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:00–18:00 (Open until 20:00 on Nov. 7, Dec. 5, 12, 13) *Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
Closed: Wednesdays (except open on Dec. 17)
Admission: General 1,500 yen / Seniors (65+) 1,400 yen / University & High School Students 1,000 yen / Junior High School Students and under Free
*Free admission for visitors with a disability certificate and one accompanying person. *Reservations with date/time slot required on weekends and holidays.
