The Jindrak branch in Herrenstraße, a charming café in the heart of Linz, combines traditional craftsmanship with a place to meet and relax. 20 years ago, a completely new idea was born here that goes beyond coffee and pastries: the Jindrak art café.
In 2004, Leo Jindrak, the driving force behind the family business, had a special vision. He not only wanted to offer a space for the art of fine baking, but also to create a stage for local artists.
"It was important to me to create a place where art and culinary delights go hand in hand," explains Leo Jindrak. "The art café should be a place of inspiration and exchange - a place where you can enjoy not only a good piece of cake, but also art."
This idea was realised with the opening of the art café. Since then, the Kunstcafé Jindrak has been a fixture on the Linz art scene. The exhibitions, which were curated by Linz-based artist Robert Oltay from the outset, changed every quarter until he passed the baton to artist Susanne Purviance in 2022. With her passion and keen sense of art, Purviance sets new impulses without losing sight of the original vision. She describes the curatorial process as a combination of intuition and a close dialogue with the local art scene:
“I take my lead from the artists and their works. It is important to me that the exhibition tells a story and that the works bring a certain energy that enlivens the café.”
On 19 September 2024, Kunstcafé Jindrak celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special exhibition featuring a cross-section of two decades of exhibitions. Under the title "20 years of Kunstcafé Jindrak", 20 artists who have helped shape the café over the past few years are presenting their works. This anniversary exhibition not only reflects the diversity of the Linz art scene, but also honours the commitment of Leo Jindrak and the curators involved, who have breathed life into the Kunstcafé.
The Kunstcafé Jindrak is a place for encounters and cultural exchange, where the love of art and the joy of enjoyment merge. Visitors can view works of art in a relaxed atmosphere while savouring Jindrak's popular pastries.
With the exhibition "20 years of Kunstcafé Jindrak", Leo Jindrak and his café are setting an example for the importance of art in public spaces. He shows that art and culture do not have to exist in isolation in museums and galleries, but can also find their place in everyday life.
#It shows how creative entrepreneurs are and what contribution they make to the success of society in everyday life. A commitment that cannot be taken for granted.
