Lebt und arbeitet in Wien Talks (DE/EN)
The Most Liveable City
Esra Özmen (EsRap), Stefanie Sargnagel and Toxische Pommes in conversation with Denice Bourbon
The Lebt und arbeitet in Wien Talks are consived as a polyphonic portrait of the city of Vienna. Starting from socially relevant questions, the series of talks approaches the city not through a uniform narrative, but through contradictions, ruptures and parallel perspectives. Vienna is considered as a space for reflection where social, political, cultural and historical dynamics overlap.
The talks form a discursive extension of the exhibition Lebt und arbeitet in Wien. While the exhibition brings together artistic positions, the series of talks opens up a public space for thought and discussion in which the city is not described but negotiated. The talk series does not explain Vienna, but rather makes it tangible – as a complex, contradictory and vibrant city that can only be described through many voices.
Under the title The Most Liveable City, PCCC* stars Denice Bourbon, Esra Özmen (EsRap), Stefanie Sargnagel and Toxische Pommes discuss what makes Vienna special. What stories does Vienna tell beyond the postcard views? Who is heard – and who is overlooked? Together, they take a multifaceted look at the city: navigating between humour and harsh reality, origin and belonging, pop culture and politics. It’s about the Viennese way of life, about clichés and alternative narratives – and about the question of how this city might be reimagined. A conversation straddling myth and everyday life, full of perspectives, friction and perhaps even some new favourite stories about Vienna.
The talk is free with a valid exhibition ticket.
Denice Bourbon
Denice Bourbon is a lesbian/queer feminist performance artist, singer, author, presenter, curator and stand-up comedian. She uses humour and entertainment as an activist tool to draw attention to political issues. In 2017, she co-founded the queer comedy club PCCC*, which she has been running alone since 2020 as a presenter, office genius and comedy mother. Denice is very loud, prude and pretty decadent.
Esra Özmen
Esra Özmen is a rapper, lyricist, street worker and performer from Ottakring, Vienna. There, she is not only one half of the duo EsRap but also is (OTK’s) president. She holds a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, where she focused on rap, hip-hop narratives, migrant backgrounds and empowerment. She is currently pursuing her doctorate at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.
Stefanie Sargnagel
Stefanie Sargnagel studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Since 2016, she has worked as a freelance writer and cartoonist. Her books Statusmeldungen, Dicht, and Iowa are bestsellers. Sargnagel publishes weekly digital drawings, writes features, is an influencer on social media and gives up to 70 readings a year. When asked whether she considers herself a writer, cabaret artist, internet troll or cartoonist, Sargnagel usually replies: ‘I am my own genre.’
Toxische Pommes
Driven by her fascination with the ugly sides of life, Toxische Pommes parodies Austrian society and willingly exposes its flaws, even where it hurts. In addition to her satirical short videos, for which she received the Austrian Cabaret Prize in 2024 and the Bavarian Cabaret Prize in 2025, she has been performing her comedy programme on various stages throughout the German-speaking countries since 2022. Following Ketchup, Mayo & Ajvar, wunschlos unglücklich is her second solo show. Her debut novel Ein schönes Ausländerkind was published by Zsolnay in 2024 and is currently being adapted for the stage by the Burgtheater under the direction of Sara Ostertag, premiering in March 2027.
