{"id":2186,"date":"2025-12-01T18:11:39","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T17:11:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.katjarestovic.com\/?p=2186"},"modified":"2026-04-14T11:57:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T09:57:23","slug":"mario-soldo-icon-of-the-viennese-scene-and-visionary-of-queer-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.katjarestovic.com\/en\/fashion\/fashion-news\/mario-soldo-icon-of-the-viennese-scene-and-visionary-of-queer-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"MARIO SOLDO \u2013 ICON OF THE VIENNESE SCENE AND VISIONARY OF QUEER CULTURE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mario Soldo is one of the most recognisable names of the Viennese artistic, fashion and queer scene. As Austria\u2019s first drag queen, a pioneer of performance and provocative artistic expression, Soldo defined the 1990s and left a lasting mark on Vienna\u2019s urban culture. His work merges fashion, art, music, club culture and activism \u2013 and his energy continues to shape new generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Author, mentor and voice of Viennese queer history<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the role of author, Mario Soldo wrote the foreword to a book documenting the evolution of Vienna\u2019s queer scene. Through interviews with prominent figures \u2013 Gerry Keszler, Julian Wiehl, Andy Reiter and Pandora Nox \u2013 the book gains depth, historical context and emotional resonance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between the photographs are inspiring quotes that invite reflection, while the Galerie Mario Soldo presents the visual highlights of the work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exhibition opening is included in the official program of the Vienna PRIDE Parade, symbolically linking the past and present of the queer community in a unique artistic project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A central figure of Vienna\u2019s queer 1990s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the 1990s, Soldo stood at the heart of Vienna\u2019s alternative culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His work included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • fashion and avant-garde styling<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • artistic and theatrical performance<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • club culture and visual identity of nightlife<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • activism and breaking social taboos<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    He took part in the \u201cPin Up!\u201d exhibition in his own gallery, dedicated to the young queer club scene and its influence on Vienna\u2019s visual identity. He collaborated with other notable artists such as Walter Bauer and Johannes Hoschek, helping shape a cultural landscape that continues to influence Vienna today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Fashion and film \u2013 directing the final spectacles of MQ Vienna Fashion Week<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      For ten consecutive years, Mario Soldo has produced the closing show of MQ Vienna Fashion Week, and for the anniversary he presented the opulent \u201cFellini Show\u201d, created in collaboration with HUMANA Austria. He draws inspiration from the films of Italian director Federico Fellini, one of cinema\u2019s greatest masters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      A devoted admirer of Fellini since childhood, Soldo designs an extravagant style show that reinterprets scenes from classics such as \u201cLa Dolce Vita,\u201d \u201cAmarcord,\u201d and \u201cCasanova.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The programme is further enriched by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      • music by Nino Rota performed live by saxophonist Franz Schubert<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • cabaret hosting by Mika Blauensteiner<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • more than 100 models, including well-known Viennese figures: Ossi Schellmann, Gaby Schellmann, Marianne Kohn, Franz J. Sauer, Erich Joham, Sonja Kato\u2013Maillath, Silvia Schneider, Hannah Neunteufel, Isabella Abel and many others<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        The closing show is transformed into a multimedia spectacle \u2013 a fusion of fashion, film, theatre and music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Mario Soldo Takes the Stage as Moderator at Fashion News<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        Likewise, Soldo also served as a moderator at the international fashion festival Fashion News in Rijeka, held at the Croatian Cultural Centre (HKD) in 1996, where he attracted significant public attention:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Mario Soldo is an exceptionally engaging and charismatic host who brought an entirely new dimension to fashion shows \u2013 his relaxed and effortless style of presenting infused every program with a distinctive energy, Restovi\u0107 points out. Following their meeting in Rijeka and a successful collaboration, a more informal continuation followed \u2013 at his invitation, Fashion News appeared as a guest in Vienna as part of his shows and program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        He struck me as a truly remarkable person, full of spirit, warmth, and unforgettable anecdotes. In his presence, everything felt natural and spontaneous, and it was precisely this quality that left a strong impression on everyone around him. I am truly glad to have met him and to have had the opportunity to work together \u2013 such encounters and people remain of lasting value, Restovi\u0107 concludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          <\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Mario Soldo \u2013 a symbol of freedom, creativity and transformation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          Throughout his career, Mario Soldo has remained synonymous with courage, artistic fearlessness and aesthetic originality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          His work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          • celebrates diversity<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • pushes boundaries<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • unites fashion, art and performance<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • shapes the identity of Vienna\u2019s queer and alternative culture<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            As an artist, performer, curator and visionary, Mario Soldo stands as one of the most influential figures in Austrian queer history \u2013 and an inspiration for generations to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              <\/ul>\n\n\n
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              MQ Vienna Fashion Week – Mario Soldo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Mario Soldo is one of the most recognisable names of the Viennese artistic, fashion and queer scene. As Austria\u2019s first drag queen, a pioneer of performance and provocative artistic expression, Soldo defined the 1990s and left a lasting mark on Vienna\u2019s urban culture. His work merges fashion, art, music, club culture and activism \u2013 and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4609,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2186","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fashion-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katjarestovic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2186","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katjarestovic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katjarestovic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katjarestovic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katjarestovic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2186"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.katjarestovic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2186\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4632,"href":"https:\/\/www.katjarestovic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2186\/revisions\/4632"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katjarestovic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katjarestovic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katjarestovic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katjarestovic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}