Gustav Klimt: Painting, Design and
Modern Life in Vienna 1900 

Tate Liverpool May 30-August 31

Art enthusiasts will be delighted to discover that, as part of the European Capital of Culture 2008 celebrations, Tate Liverpool is presenting the first ever comprehensive UK exhibition of Gustav Klimt's work.

Focusing on the life and art of Klimt, the exhibition will explore the relationship between his role as leader of the Viennese Secession—a progressive group of artists and artisans driven by a desire for innovation and renewal—and the products and philosophy of the Wiener Werkstätte (Viennese Workshop), itself a response to the English Arts and Crafts movement.

The work and philosophy of the Viennese Secession included architecture, decorative art and fashion as well as art. So, alongside the highlights of Klimt's career, will be shown works of his close friend, the architect and designer Josef Hoffmann, who co-founded the Wiener Werkstätte with Koloman Moser.

Klimt remains one of the world's most revered and influential artists, and the intention here is to present his life and works in some perspective. So paintings and drawings from throughout his career will be displayed in settings that recreate his patrons' private residences.

The luxuriously illustrated catalogue will give a complete overview of Klimt's work in relation to the development of interior design, furniture and jewellery, with essays on key works by leading scholars.