Vesna Bukovec

Where do we go from here?

Exhibition: Where do we go from here?
Location: Secession, Vienna, Austria
Date: July 2 – Aug 29, 2010

Artists: Liliana Basarab (RO), Vesna Bukovec (SLO), Petra Feriancová (SK), Judit Fischer (HU), Philipp Fleischmann (A), Nilbar Güreş (TR/A), Marlene Haring (A), Nina Höchtl (A), Ana Hoffner (SRB/A), Käthe Ivansich (A), Gergely László (HU), Dorota Kenderová (SK), Johanna Kirsch (A), Eva Kot’átková (CZ), Gergely László (HU), Roberta Lima (BR/A), Marissa Lobo (BR/A), Olivia Mihaltianu (RO), Miklós Mécs (HU), Christoph Meier (A), Anna Molska (PL), Olivia Mihaltianu (RO), Ciprian Mureşan (RO), Jan Nálevka (CZ), Ioana Nemeş (RO), Timea Anita Oravecz (HU), Ekaterina Shapiro-Obermair (RU/A), Katarina Šević (SRB/HU), SZAF (Judit Fischer & Miklós Mécs), Adrien Tirtiaux (B/A), Jaro Varga (SK), Anna Witt (D/A) and others

Curator: Elisabeth Bettina Spörr

Sujet: Anna Kasnyik

About the exhibition:
where do we go from here? presents primarily new works, most of which were created specially for the exhibition, by around thirty artists. The exhibition is the latest in the “Junge Szene” series (at irregular intervals since 1984, most recently in 2003) in which the Secession offers young artists an institutional platform and international attention. Besides concentrating on “young” art, where do we go from here? emphasizes the presence of women artists and appeals in a globalized world for an awareness of Central Europe as a shared region, moving beyond tired old East/West antagonisms.

With the original intention of the Junge Szene exhibition in mind, an analysis of changing conditions over the last 20-25 years played a key role in the exhibition concept. The decision to focus on Central Europe was prompted by the huge changes undergone by the Vienna art scene(s) during this period. Vienna is among the major cities of “old Europe” to benefit most directly from the geopolitical changes of the last two decades. The former lack of exhibition opportunities for “young” artists has in recent years been corrected by an ever-increasing abundance of institutions, galleries, self-organized exhibition spaces, festivals, etc.

The question posed in the show’s title is meant to be read in different ways and contexts: taken literally, it refers to a phenomenon with a direct influence on the living and working conditions of a generation of young artists today: the call for unrestricted mobility and flexibility as a prerequisite for the chance of a successful career. Student exchange programs, work and studio grants have become both the basis for and the driving force behind this system – even some galleries now have their own studio exchange programs. In extreme cases, this development leads to a modern form of nomadism, with uprooting and isolation instead of the intended networking and integration.

In metaphorical terms, the title’s question refers to future developments within society as a whole and especially to the potential function of art (and artists) within that society. With the globalization of the art world, viewed as a consequence of the collapse of Eastern European communism, the old antagonism between artistic autonomy and political/social engagement was revived. The processes of political, social, and economic transformation in today’s Central Europe are addressed in a number of the works in the show. In their childhood and early youth, many of the featured artists grew up with the reality of communism and the division of Europe as shaping influences. Consequently, the works on show deal in very different ways with the changes – changes that had a far more direct impact in former socialist countries: documentary approaches play an important part, as do participatory strategies, or humor, irony, and nostalgia.

Finally, and in full awareness of the problems this involves, the exhibition title assumes a collective “we”. Much studied by artists the world over, the recent political theory of writers such as Antonio Negri and Michael Hardt appeals emphatically for a “new community” as an alternative to the dominant neo-liberal world order. Collaborative and participatory artistic practices have long become an integral part of the art scene. At the same time, the “art star” created by the art market and based on a commercial logic enjoys great success as a heroic individualistic figure. Many of the artists in the exhibition often work in collectives or collaborate for individual projects with other artists, theorists, or the exhibition audience – at the same time as constantly competing for attention, exhibitions, sales, etc.

The exhibition takes its title from Martin Luther King’s last book WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Chaos or Community?, written in 1967 when, after its first major successes, the black civil rights movement had entered a period of crisis. Today, this work is seen as his legacy and as evidence of his socio-political visions and hopes – much of it still relevant to this day. At the same time, King’s self-reflexive and critical analysis is a snapshot of a society faced with the choice of sinking into chaos or working towards a life together as a peaceful community based on equality. Without wishing to draw parallels to the black civil rights movement of the 1960s, many of the acute social problems of that period – such as racism, discrimination, unequal distribution of wealth, and class divisions – persist today.

www.secession.at

I am participating with a series of drawings Positive Illussion and I promise to change the world but only if 10 other people will do the same.

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K3: International Short Film Festival

Exhibition: K3: International Short Film Festival
Location: Villach, Austria
Date: July 2 – 4, 2010

Festival Director: Fritz Koch
Head of Jury: Bady Minck

Filmmakers: Argyris Germanidis & Stavros Raptis, Nottapon Boonprakob, Peter Bizjak, Sylvia Winkler & Stephan Köperl, Olga Petrova, Milan Urbajs, Muriel Montini, Gunda Gruber, Helge Brumme, Gerard Freixes Ribera, Carlos Amaral, Iuri Bastos, Kika Nicolela, Stephan Groß, Lionel Rupp, Max Liebich, Karim Azimi, Sebastian Kenney, Rimas Sakalauskas, Giuseppe Boccassini, Adel Serhan

Artists (Installations): Vesna Bukovec, Ioann Maria, Iris Cerny & Marie Prammer, Fritz Hock, Joaquin Gasgonia Palencia, Scott F. Hall & Matt Dombrowski

Festival website
More about the video installations

I am participating with the video It Will Be OK

Frauen Circus Museum_phase 01

Exhibition: Frauen Circus Museum_phase 01
Location: Gleisdorf, Austria
Date: June 12 – 22, 2010

Organized by: ACRYL

Artists: Vesna Bukovec (SLO), CYM (NL), Irmgard Eixelberger (A), Nurith Eppstein (IL), Ulla Klopf (A), Michaela Knittelfelder-Lang (A), Renate Krammer (A), DORIS ROSENBERGER (A), Linda Maria Schwarz (A), Evelin Stermitz (A), Angelika Thon (A), Angela Wohnout (A)

Places: Stadtpark Gleisdorf, Eislaufplatz: Container, Einraum Bürgergasse 12, Sport Pilz Bürgergasse 19, Fachkosmetik Katharina Bürgergasse 1, flower power Weizer Straße 4, Atelier curiosum Weizer Straße 4, Stadtbücherei Gleisdorf, Weizer Straße 3, Buchhandlung Plautz Sparkassenplatz 2

Invitation card (pdf)

More…

I was invited by Evelin Stermitz to take part in the exhibition. I will present four videos:

• I can create positive change
• I love myself for who I am
• I trust in the process of life
• Personal Advice

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DigitalBigScreen Festival 2010 – Trbovlje novomedijsko mesto (TNM)

Exhibition: DigitalBigScreen Festival 2010 – Trbovlje novomedijsko mesto (TNM)
Location: DDT, Labour home Trbovlje (Delavski dom Trbovlje)
Date: May 4-8, 2010

Artists:
Selection from international open call: Blaž Erzetič, Matej Ocepek, Monika Vrečar, Paride Di Stefano, Vesna Bukovec, Lemeh42

Selected by prof. dr. Dušan Bučar: Ana Baraga, Andrea Stančić, Anna Torronen, Beata Faron, Eli Dimitrova, Luis Pederaza, Maj Brit Jensen, Matej Stupica, Naja Simčič, Sava in Maja Kosmač, Simona Sasinova

Selected works V.A.T.: Andrej Grilj, Aphra Tesla, Benjamin Kreže, Katarina Bebar and Matej Drnovšek, Katja Sovre, Manja Ključevšek, Maša Jazbec, Mojca Mlinarič, Špela Pavli, Tanja Hanžič, Zoran Poznič

About the exhibition
Process of cinema digitalization, which at last is starting also in Slovenia, enables us to view new content in cinema halls. That includes video and it’d derivations (video document, video performance …). Until now video artists were limited to TV screen, LCD or small screen projections – smaller formats. There were technical limitations to their possibilities.

Digitalbigscreen Festival 2010 (TNM) is turning these positions upside down. We offer video artists a possibility of presenting their works on big cinema screen, which enables them an insight into contemporary visual practice in a new way.

More…

I am participating with a single channel version of the video Please Wake Up Every Morning

The Dump – Recycling of Thoughts

Exhibition: The Dump – Recycling of Thoughts
Location: Laznia Centre for Contemporary Art, Gdańsk
Date: April 24 – May 30, 2010

Artists: Dave Ball, Vesna Bukovec, Agnieszka Chojnacka, Łukasz Jastrubczak, Agnieszka Kurant, Łukasz Ogórek, Tom Milnes, Kama Sokolnicka, Metka Zupanič

Curator: Agnieszka Kulazińska

About the exhibition:
The idea of “The-Dump.net” was conceived by French artist and theorist Maurice Benayoun. It comes down to a dump of thoughts. It exists in the form of an Internet blog which comprises concepts of works in theoretical or hypothetical shape, ideas too complex to be realized, and not clearly defined, transient thoughts being born each day in artist’s mind.

What is the difference between today’s artists and regular citizens? Since the Renaissance the situation was clear as the craftsmanship was an indispensable element of artistic production. The artist worked according to disegno – the intellectual idea – and the capability to put it into practice was essential. In the 20th century the proportions reversed: the craft ceased to matter and artistic activity shifted into the sphere of pure conceptuality. Today, the final work can be as well accomplished by another person, be born through coincidence, or the viewers themselves can become co-authors or provide conditions for it to appear.

“The Dump – Recycling of Thoughts” is an experiment whose construction brings to mind an Internet forum. The artists invited to the project will be asked to realize concepts picked up from the dump.

More about the exhibition

I am participating with a series of drawings I promise to change the world but only if 10 other people will do the same.

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AT HOME: Architects France and Marta Ivanšek

Exhibition: AT HOME: Architects France and Marta Ivanšek / DOMA: arhitekta France in Marta Ivanšek
Location: Museum of Modern Art (Moderna galerija), Tomšičeva 14, Ljubljana
Date: March 25 – May 16, 2010

In co-production with Trajekt – Zavod za prostorsko kulturo

Curators: Martina Malešič and Anja Planišček

Interventions by artists: Vesna Bukovec, Vadim Fiškin, Dejan Habicht, Žiga Kariž, Tanja Lažetić, Tadej Pogačar, radioCona (Irena Pivka, Brane Zorman), Zora Stančić, Petra Varl

About the exhibition:
A presentation of a pair of architects who were very influential in the development of architecture in Slovenia in the second half of the 20th century. Based on research, their projects were progressive and unique in their time: the Murgle residential area, a furniture line for the company Meblo, the store Interier, and nursing homes. Interventions by contemporary artists also form part of the exhibition.

More… / Več…

I am participating with a video Moje sanje, lepo stanovanje / The Happiest Apartment in the World, 2010

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I have produced an edition of 100 posters with drawings borrowed from the book France Ivanšek: Single Family House, published by the author in 1988.
The poster is for sale in the museum shop of the Museum of Modern Art, Ljubljana (Moderna galerija).
Dimensions: 50x70cm, price: 10 EUR

A series of water resistant transparent stickers with 9 different motifs from the same book, each edition of 100, is also for sale at the museum shop.
Dimension: Ø7cm, price: 2,50 EUR per sticker

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Vesna Bukovec from 06:04 to 07:13 (in Slovene only)