Title: ostend company

ostend company

2017 – 1′ – AT

a project by Katharina Swoboda

“A project about the Ostend Company, which was founded by Austrian Emperor Charles VI in 1722. At the time, Ostend was part of the Austrian South Netherlands. After the War of the Spanish Succession, the Southern Netherlands became Austrian territory. The Ostend Company was modeled after the successful models of the Dutch and English East India Companies, which were very profitable at that time. In Banquibazar, which is now Ichapore, the Austrians established one commercial post, or “colony.” Due to political pressure from England and the Netherlands, the company was short-lived.” (by k. s.)

exhibitions (where parts of the projected were presented):
– Excursies. Solo Presentation. Steiermark Haus, Brussels 2017
– Don´t call it off-space. Curated by Alexandra Grausan. das weisse haus, Vienna 2017.