September-October 2022
Research in Slovakia
08.09-29.10.2022
Permanent Alternatives
Exhibition in Ernest Zmeták Art Gallery in Nové Zámky
The research and the exhibition in Slovakia will be focused on the current view of the individual stages with an emphasis on key events, personalities, localities, main and marginal topics. At the same time, we will analyse connections of Czech-Slovak, Slovak-Hungarian art, and their responses in Slovak art, which have not yet been researched. The result will be a new open reading of history in broader contexts. Studies in the publication: “Permanent Alternatives” (working title) follow the time-thematic axis.
The forthcoming studies are characterized by the intention to provide a new reading of history, based on updating, summarizing and reflecting on knowledge, pointing out the resonances of Czech-Slovak an Slovak-Hungarian relations, as well as the broader contexts of Slovak art. The studies will provide another perspective, an alternative narrative of history, with reference to analogies and specifics of art within the countries of Central Europe. The benefit of the studies will be the enrichment of knowledge and contextual reading of the history of fine arts through texts that will be structured by references (text in texts, extended notes, diversions) approaching individual phenomena through selected works, art forms, artists, exhibitions and themes exhibition: “Permanent Alternatives” (working title) in the Ernest Zmeták Art Gallery in Nové Zámky. With its concept, the exhibition loosely follows the thematic-chronological axis of studies in the handbook. It will provide a brief overview of alternative tendencies manifestations of conceptual, neoconceptual and intermedia art in Slovakia from the mid-60s to the present. It will present works fragments of works, relics, or later author's reconstructions, photographic and archive documentation, video recordings, sound recording and text descriptions of events, as well as various other documents (invitations, catalogs, project proposals, etc.).
Topics:
- Genesis of action and conceptual art experimental music and visual poetry (1963 - 1972), activities of key actors (A. Mlynárčik, J. Koller, S. Filko, P. Bartoš, M. Adamčiak, J Želibská), overview of important presentations on the official stage (International Biennale DANUVIUS, 1968, Bratislava Polymúzický prostor, 1970, Piešťany) and non-gallery spaces (I. open studio, 1970, Bratislava), events outside the centre (J. Bartusz Košice), establishing foreign contacts and cooperation (Meeting of Czechoslovak and Hungarian Artists, Balatonboglár, 1972).
- Function of the alternative scene (1972 - 1985) during normalization, unofficial and independent activities: creative meetings in studios, apartments public and non-gallery spaces, outdoor events, album publishing. It will provide an overview of art experiments, ecological, cosmologica utopian projects (R. Sikora, S. Filko), utopian architectural projects (A. Mlynárčik, VAL, J. Jankovič), psychological and sociological research (J. Budaj, Ľ. Durček, Dočasná spoločnosť intenzívneho prežívania), research focused on the dialogue of science and art (J Jankovič, J. Bartusz), unique experiments with zoomedio (P. Bartoš), meditative events in nature (M. Kern). It will present thematically focused creative meetings (Bratislava Artifact Shift Championships, 1979 - 1986), outdoor events (Terén 1982 - 1984), representatives o the international mail art network.
- The period of perestroika (1985-1989) meant a partial easing of bans and restrictions, the onset of the young generation, a revival of activities in the region. The Štúdió Erté group (1987 - 2007) organized e-mail art events and international festivals of experimental art (1988 - 2018, since 1992 Transart Communication) in Nové Zámky. Young neo-expressive artists realize symposia in nature (Exterior I-IV., 1987 - 1989). The Syzygy Group (1988-1992) developed an intergenerational dialogue. The exhibition Nový slovenský obraz (1988) presented expanded forms of traditional painting media, the semi-public exhibition Basement ́89, presented objects and site-specific installations in intergenerational dialogue, connecting authors entering the scene in the 60's and 70's with the younger generation of artists - from action art until a temporary artistic artifact. Several artists and art school students were directly involved in the revolutionary events of November 1989.
- Turnover time (1990-1998) - the first post-revolutionary years were marked by reforms of the cultural and institutional spheres. The arrival of artists of the alternative and independent scene as teachers at art college triggered a wave of neo-conceptual art. Groups of artists with similar opinions (Nová vážnosť, Skupina A – R, Čenkovej deti) wer formed. Renewal of international contacts and cooperation. The division of Czechoslovakia (1992) and the rise of an authoritarian government, preferring conservative national art in cultural policy (1992-1998), slowed down a promising start. Progressive artists reacted to this situation, a generation of new media artists (R. Ondák, B. Ondreička, C. Blažo, D. Lehocká) arrived. Significant individualities were categorized by gender themes (J. Želibská, I. Németh, A. Daučíková). Remarkable exhibitions and events took place outside the Bratislava centre (Sympózium Laboratórium, Prešov, 1992, Vysoké Tatry, 1994, Košice, 1996; sympózium preMostenie, Štúrovo Esztergom, 1997; exhibitions Umenie aury, 1995 – 1996, Pamäť miesta 1997 – 2000, GJK Trnava; Fyzický/ Mentálny, 1995, Paradigm žena, 1996, PGU, Žilina).
- The turn and beginnings of the millennium (1999-2010) - meant integration into European structures, in the art of reflection on the past, opening taboo topics, public and private confrontations, social criticism, reactions to nationalism an discrimination, criticism of consumerism, institutional and media criticism. Authors preferring gender themes (P. Fichta-Čierna, L Tkáčová, A. Mona Chisa), social-critical artists (A. Čierny, R. Fajnor, S. Mikyta, M. Kvetan, M. Moravčík, M. Piaček) and solitaires (S Masár, T. Džadoň, Š. Papčo).
- f) media period (2010 - 2020) - raised the problems of globalization, the increase in violence, the threat o international terrorism, the problem of migration and the crisis of climate change, environmental issues, criticism of capitalism, consume and conformist life. The emergence of engaged and activist contributions, independent centers, was intensified by criticism of the institutional gallery sphere, from the conservatism of presentation - to the power position of institutions and the art market (R. Fajnor, J Kapelová, M. Galbavý, Kassaboys). The beginnings were marked by the struggle for the establishment of the Kunsthalle in Bratislava an the hopes placed in the reconstruction of the SNG. Within the regional gallery network, the influence and importance of some institution (PGU Žilina, SG Banská Bystrica, NG Nitra, VSG Košice, GUEZ Nové Zámky) increased. Private galleries, new independent exhibition spaces and centres with a defined program were established (Krokus, Gallery 19, SODA, Zahorian Gallery in Bratislava, Banská ST NICA in Banská Štiavnica, New Synagogue in Žilina). The art scene retains generational and ideological diversity, independence an openness by developing and establishing collaborations.
The forthcoming studies are characterized by the intention to provide a new reading of history, based on updating, summarizing and reflecting on knowledge, pointing out the resonances of Czech-Slovak an Slovak-Hungarian relations, as well as the broader contexts of Slovak art. The studies will provide another perspective, an alternative narrative of history, with reference to analogies and specifics of art within the countries of Central Europe. The benefit of the studies will be the enrichment of knowledge and contextual reading of the history of fine arts through texts that will be structured by references (text in texts, extended notes, diversions) approaching individual phenomena through selected works, art forms, artists, exhibitions and themes Exhibition: “Permanent Alternatives” (working title) in the Ernest Zmeták Art Gallery in Nové Zámky. With its concept, the exhibition loosely follows the thematic-chronological axis of studies in the handbook. It will provide a brief overview of alternative tendencies manifestations of conceptual, neoconceptual and intermedia art in Slovakia from the mid-60s to the present. It will present works fragments of works, relics, or later author's reconstructions, photographic and archive documentation, video recordings, sound recording and text descriptions of events, as well as various other documents (invitations, catalogues, project proposals, etc.).
Temporary exhibition — Pertu no. 13