Helmut & Johanna Kandl. Material + Archive is published to accompany the parallel exhibitions Viva Archiva! at the Landesgalerie Niederösterreich and Palette at Kunsthaus Graz. In Krems, the focus is on the artists' extensive collection of photos and objects. The personal history of the Kandls and their examination of the creation and use of painting materials is linked to socio-political developments in Austria. Palette shows works by Helmut & Johanna Kandl together with works of art, minerals, plants and ethnographic objects from the collections of the Universalmuseum Joanneum, thus creating a multi-layered picture with several cross-references.

The close connection between the two exhibitions is made clear in the catalogue, which contains aspects of both shows and–quite in the manner of the Kandls–reveals their interweaving of content. In addition to numerous texts, it contains reproductions of Johanna Kandl's paintings and Helmut Kandl's collages, video stills and several photos from their archives.