Moderna galerija/Museum of Modern Art, The 25th Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana
Three exhibitions in Ljubljana this June:FORM-SPECIFIC
Moderna galerija Ljubljana
31 May 31 July 2003
Yuri Avvakumov, Angela Bulloch, Daniel Buren, EXAT 51 (Bernardo Bernardi, Zdravko Bregovac, Vlado Kristl, Ivan Picelj, Zvonimir Radić, Boidar Raica, Miroslav Richter, Aleksandar Srnec, Vladimir Zarahović), Liam Gillick, Edward Krasinski, Luisa Lambri, Marko Lulić, Mathieu Mercier, Sarah Morris, Olaf Nicolai, Hélio Oiticica, Marko Peljhan, Tadej Pogačar & the P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. Museum of Contemporary Art, Marjetica Potrč, Florian Pumhösl, Tobias Rehberger, Apolonija uterič, Jacques Tati/presented by Fiona Meadows and Lisa de Visscher, Anton Vidokle, Duan Vukotić
Curator: Zdenka Badovinac
Venue: new museum premises at Metelkova 22
The exhibition Form-Specific aims to synthesize the experience of high modernism, which strove for pure, autonomous forms, and of post-Conceptual art and its determination by specific experiences of time and space.
At a time when we are becoming increasingly aware of how quickly the world can be homogenized, and the fear of a possible disappearance of the specific differences of its various spaces is beginning to rear its head, we must learn to recognize form as a tool and as a weapon of communication. The more canonized the graphic signs, forms, and colors, the more general the consensus behind them, and the more significant the relations of power discernible from the extent and the ways of using form.
No matter how universal a given form may appear, we must now point out its specific aspects, at least in terms of its use, perception or interpretation. To present this fact, the exhibition Form-Specific wishes to use the example of some of historical works from both Western and various marginal contexts. Naturally, also this retrospect view is taken from the present-day standpoint of thinking about form and its temporal and spatial determination. Even though this exhibition does not wish to put forward form as an abstract or autonomous entity, it may well repeat the experience of modernist (Minimalist) art to a great extent. Yet, rather than speaking of what is visible (what you see is what you see), present-day works, at times reminiscent of Minimalist works shorn of particular thoughts and personal emotions, address that which is not visible. With their apparently pure forms, current works do not speak of universal laws; instead, they refer to some sort of immaculate laboratories in which science descends from the pedestal of pure thought and becomes involved in the production of substance, both for the improvement and for the destruction of the world.
Whereas modernist works strove to attain the utmost in purity and autonomy of form, form-specific works underscore the fact that various forms may be viewed from the point of their usefulness, their social life as it were, which is very important in the increasingly codified world of global communications. While site-specific works were based on their interaction with the viewer and the space, form-specific works focus on a relatively free use of existing forms in terms of their repetition within a different spatial and time frame. Although a given form is repeated because of its particularity, the universality of its understanding is at risk every time it is repeated. Every use of a given form potentially jeopardizes the system within which it has originated, as there is no guarantee it will be universally understood in the sense presupposed by the system. Its repetition in the context of a work of art can thus be an articulation of new spaces of freedom, of a free manipulation with the existing signs of an increasingly formalized world.
Zdenka Badovinac
The exhibition, which is conceived and organised by Moderna galerija, will be placed at its new premises, an as yet not renowated building in the complex of the former Yugoslav Army barracks, where, in 2000, the first display of the collection Arteast 2000+ was staged. The first display of the new collection of Moderna galerija Arteast 2000+ emphasized a dialog between East and West Europe and offered the most comprehensive overview so far of East European art based on the experience of Conceptualism from the 1960s to the present. Among other things, the exhibition Form Specific will also provide an opportunity to consider the possible directions for the future development of the Arteast 2000+ collection.
More info: Adela eleznik, Moderna galerija, Tel: 0038612416808
E-mail: adela.zeleznik@mg-lj.si
Moderna galerija/Museum of Modern Art, Tomičeva 14, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Tel: +386(0)12416800, Fax: +386(0)12514120, E-mail: info@mg-lj.si, www.mg-lj.si
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THE 25TH INTERNATIONAL BIENNIAL OF GRAPHIC ARTS
10 June 28 September 2003, Ljubljana, Slovenia
The 25th Biennial of Graphic Arts
10 June 28 September 2003
Artists and Projects:
John M Armleder, Art & Project, Vesna Bukovec, Vidya Gastaldon, Isa Genzken, Liam Gillick, Fabrice Gygi, Pierre Huyghe & Philippe Parreno, Irwin, Ivana Keser, Antinomian Press (Ben Kinmont), Kiosk, Ivan Koarić, Polonca Lovin, M/M, Lucy McKenzie, Robert Morris, Gianni Motti, museum in progress, Onestar Press, Raymond Pettibon, Permanent Food (Maurizio Cattelan & Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster), Seth Price, Tadej Pogačar & P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. Museum of Contemporary Art, Allen Ruppersberg, Anamarija majdek, Josh Smith, Erik Steinbrecher, Xavier Veilhan, Dan Walsh.
Curator: Christophe Cherix
Pre-opening days: public talks and demonstrations by the participating artists
Press conference: June 9 at 11 a.m.
Opening: June 10 at 9 p.m.
Symposium The Producers: June 11 at 2 p.m. in Cankarjev dom
Locations:
International Centre of Graphic Arts
Museum of Modern Art
Cankarjev dom Gallery
National Museum of Slovenia
Tivoli Park
Proreklam-Europlakat billboards
The 25th Biennial of Graphic Arts is composed by a group show with some large-scale artistic interventions, historical presentation of the International Biennials of Graphic Arts from 1955, and a symposium conceived by Lionel Bovier.
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From the Cradle to the Grave
Selected Drawings by Damien Hirst
10 June 28 September 2003
Opening: June 10 at 9 p.m.
Location: International Centre of Graphic Arts
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The 25th Biennial of Graphic Arts is supported by: Petrol (Main Sponsor), Lek (Sponsor of the Symposium), Adria Airways, Autocommerce, Mlinotest.
Media Sponsors: Delo, Proreklam-Europlakat, Radio televizija Slovenija
Partners: British Council, museum in progress
Realized with the support by: Embassy of Switzerland, Association Française d’Action, rtistique, Ministère des Affaires Étangères, Austrian Cultural Forum, Franch Institute Charles, Nodier, Italijanski intitut za kulturo v Sloveniji, Mestna občina Ljubljana, Ministrstvo za kulturo Republike Slovenije, Fondazion suisse pour la culture Pro Helvetia, Veleposlanitvo Kraljevine panije
International Centre of Graphic Arts, Pod turnom 3, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Tel: + 386(0) 1 241 38 00, Fax: + 386(0) 1 241 38 21, E-mail: lili.sturm@mglc-lj.si, www.mglc-lj.si
