An Exhibition by the Education and Outreach Department of the Salzburg Museum

Wishes accompany every human being, regardless of age, origin, or educational background. Etymologically, the word wish derives from the Indo-European root meaning “to strive for something.” In this sense, wishes exist between reality and an as-yet-unattained ideal, and they can therefore influence our actions.

The exhibition “WISHFUL THINKIN yesterday. today. tomorrow.” presents four “wish images” within their historical context: the desire for work, health, homeland, and beauty.

The special exhibition approaches these themes from multiple perspectives. Through objects from the Salzburg Museum’s collection, it explores the significance of these wishes in the past and opens up different viewpoints on the topics.

At the same time, the exhibition establishes a contemporary connection. In a preceding project, people were invited to collaborate with artists in expressing their own experiences. What, for example, does the desire for work mean to the vendors of Salzburg’s street newspaper Apropos? How important is health to professionals working in the healthcare sector? What understanding of homeland do people with migrant backgrounds have? And what concept of beauty do apprentices in the hairdressing profession hold?

The exhibition is the result of a collaborative process and the contribution of many participants: the project participants invited by the museum, the artists, and the museum educators of the Salzburg Museum.