Reflections on Vienna Through the Eyes of METU Student Circles

The METU MKK Art Student Circle organized a professional study trip to Vienna on June 26, 2025. Twelve students participated, all of whom had been actively involved in the Student Circle’s work, presenting their creations and research at faculty and national conferences, and supporting programs with various professional and logistical contributions.

During this packed one-day program, the students visited several museums (MAK Museum), and experienced two particularly unique highlights:

1. University of Applied Arts Vienna Graduation Exhibitions – The students explored exhibitions presented across the university and the city as part of the Angewandte Festival 2025. The visit included a fun and memorable lunch at the university cafeteria.
2. Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) Campus – The group admired buildings designed by renowned architects, including Zaha Hadid’s library, and enjoyed the proximity to the Prater.

Before returning home, the group also visited the Belvedere 21 Museum of Contemporary Art.

Student Reflections:

“Vienna felt to me like a cleaner, yet familiar version of Budapest. The cityscape offered both familiarity and surprises, with a rich mix of modern and classical architecture. The university campus was particularly inspiring—I even had the chance to visit a library that I had previously only imagined in science fiction films.”

— Márton Gőz, MA in Motion Picture

“The WU campuses were fascinating from an architectural perspective. Observing how educational spaces and student communities are integrated into functional, livable buildings was very useful for me as an interior architecture student. Seeing international examples firsthand provided invaluable insights.”

— Lili Kósa, MA in Interior Architecture

“I am extremely grateful for the Vienna trip, as it was my first visit to Austria. I enjoyed both museum and gallery visits. It was a new experience for me to see exhibitions combining 19th- and 21st-century works in the same display. I personally loved the Baroque furniture, and also enjoyed the poster exhibition.”

— Renáta Márkus, MA in Screenwriting

“For me, the most unforgettable part was meeting new people from other programs at the university. The company and shared time were the highlights. The MAK exhibitions were particularly striking, especially the Design Lab with contemporary installations that particularly piqued my interest. The exhibitions were also educational from an interior design perspective, showing creative ways to present artworks.”

— Kristóf Modori, MA in Interior Architecture

“Our Vienna trip began at the MAK Museum, which is always a wonderful experience. The temporary exhibition Water Pressure highlighted urgent water-related issues caused by climate change, while the Powerful Pattern exhibition showcased Henriette Fris’ collection of 60 kimonos with stunning patterns and installation techniques.”

— Anna Börcsök, Associate Professor, EDE

“The study trip was both inspiring and refreshing. The MAK exhibitions Powerful Patterns – Meisen Kimonos from the MAK Collection and Water Pressure – Designing for the Future were particularly impressive. The Meisen kimonos’ patterns and the exhibition setup were remarkable, and the Water Pressure exhibition creatively and aesthetically raised awareness about social and ecological issues. Overall, the trip offered professional enrichment and personal motivation, sparking fresh ideas for my future work.”

— Victoria Wang, MA in Fashion Design

“One of the most interesting parts of our trip was visiting both the MAK and Belvedere 21. The MAK offered modern and applied art exhibitions with furniture, creative everyday objects, and even digital installations, while the Belvedere 21 presented contemporary artworks in a minimalist, thought-provoking setting. The variety made the day rich and engaging.”

— Clarissa Bánáti, MA in Fashion Design

“The Vienna trip was a truly memorable experience. We spent a pleasant day together, shared many laughs, and got to know each other better. I especially appreciated forming new friendships. My personal favorite was the MAK Museum, where I encountered high-quality exhibitions across multiple disciplines. The lace and Helmut Lang sections left a lasting impression.”

— Nikoletta Rácz, MA in Fashion Design

“Such an inspirational trip is always an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas on forward-looking questions with students and faculty. The highlight for me was the Angewandte Festival, with open studio presentations in a biennale-style setup. Seeing in-progress installations and student presentations offered fresh perspectives that I hope to apply in METU exhibitions. It was encouraging to see that our university’s work is of comparable quality, only differing in presentation style.”

— Adél Kovács, Associate Professor, DIT