Defying gravity – geopolitical and structural (dis)advantages of being young

 

The one-day round table, scheduled for 13th of October, is an open discussion on the topicDefying gravity – geopolitical and structural (dis)advantages of being young and intends to cover complex ideas within the context of what is considered “young” on the contemporary art scene.

Encompassing a variety of issues such as a revision of the young artist definition; emerging art scenes; emergent vs. traditional art praxis; and alternative models of art education, this discussion will reflect upon the ways in which such a cumulative effect may influence identity, individual carriers, art production and possibilities of engagement. Special attention will be drawn on conforming with or contesting existing stereotypes and strategies of the proverbialyoung in their pursuit of a successful breakthrough in the international art scene.

 

Inspired by the Biennial’s slogan that ‘Art is Somewhere Else’, this edition’s theme is ‘Absent Without Leave (AWOL)’. AWOL is a term which refers to someone who has deserted their post without permission -the person is somewhere else, with thoughts and needs beyond and in opposition to the central point, the institution. In accordance with this, the biennial and artists’ work aim to investigate and create alternative spaces and situations for presenting and experiencing art. This will include work that critiques the ‘institution’, projects that engage with the politics and communities of a particular site, and work that engages with the emotionalism of someone who is AWOL.

 

Above all, AWOL allows for the possibility of art arising out of unexpected discoveries, or unlikely juxtapositions for both artists and audience.By creating the opportunity where ideas of ‘here’ and ‘somewhere else’ can be explored, the Biennial aims to begin to distinguish the European identity of the capital based on such an exploration of creativity through proposals of alternative spaces for expression, experience, reflection and dialogue.

 

Participants:

 

• Rael Artel (critic and curator, Rael Artel Non-profit Space, Estonia, appointed curator for theInternational Biennial, Estonia, 2007)

 

• Ami Barak (curator, president, IKT/International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art, Paris)

 

• Dave Beech (journalist, Art Monthly magazine), Giuliana Carbi (director, TriesteContemporanea, Italy)

 

• Kim Sukie Dhillon (jurnalist, Frieze, Londra)

 

• Jaroslaw Lubiak (art historian, art critic and a curator, Muzeum Sztuki in Lodz/Poland)

 

• Duncan MacLaren (art critic, Map Magazine, Scottland)

 

• Jane Neal (journalist, Art Review, London)

 

• Nevenka Sivavec (curator at the Center for Contemporary Arts Celje/Likovni salon)

 

• Ron Sluik (artist, curator and publisher at the AoRTa Art Centre Chisinau)

 

• Carol Soutar (adviser – Cultural Enterprise Office, Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee)

 

• Yeb Wiersma (artist, member in the Trans Artists Foundation, Amsterdam).

 

• Jenny Brownrigg (curator at Dundee University, Exhibition Department, Great Britain)

 

• Branko Franceschi, curator and executive director, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Rijeka, Croatia)

 

• Irina Grabovan (director and curator, Artcentre AoRTa Chisinau, Republic of Moldavia)

 

• Simona Nastac (art critic and curator, Romania)

 

• Oana Tanase (independent curator and art critic, Romania).