This cyclical event takes place in the city of Poznan biannually and already has a history of more than thirty years. Initially, the BIENNALE focused on small sculptural forms. During the last few editions, however, organizers have not limited artists in terms of scale and material. At present, the Poznan event is one of the most significant reviews of contemporary sculpture in Central and Eastern Europe. For many years now it has enjoyed immense interest not only among Polish artists, but also among artists in Germany and France. Past editions have also featured the work of sculptors from Holland, Belgium and the United States.
Edward Lazikowski, Obiekt / OBJECT, 2004
This year's BIENNALE will bring together approximately one hundred thirty works by ninety artists from Poland and number of other European countries. Apart from Polish sculptors, the largest groups of artists will be from Germany and France. The core exhibitions of the BIENNALE will be presented at the Centrum Kultury "Zamek" / "Castle" Center of Culture.
PRZESTRZEN INTUICJI / SPACE OF INTUITION, the central exhibition of the event, will consist of sculptures, spatial compositions, installations and multimedia works by approximately sixty artists representing many different European generations and creative communities. Invited artists will present their most recent achievements, pieces that often embody unique artistic solutions. The exhibit will also present the creators themselves and their inspirations in an effort to reveal the individual decisions which sculptors make in the course of building their own spaces of intuition. SPACE OF INTUITION will be presented at the Castle, the Galeria Wielka (Grand Gallery) and in the Ogrod Rozany (Rose Garden).
Robert Sobocinski, Turbulencje / TURBULENCES, 2002
The second exhibition of the INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE BIENNALE will be on view at the Galeria Profil (Profile Gallery) and in the Castle Tower. It will consist of pieces by approximately thirty artists who engage in a dialogue with classical sculpture and continue to build on the thirty-year tradition of the MALE FORMY RZEZBIARSKIE / SMALL SCULPTURAL FORMS exhibition, which was the original embodiment of the INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE BIENNALE. In selecting the works for this exhibit, the curators sought to demonstrate the artistic tensions and creative developments that have occurred within figurative and symbolic sculpture, two currents which remain very strong.
WIELKOPOLSKA RZEZBA W GAZOWNI / SCULPTURE OF GREAT POLAND AT THE GAS WORKS will be one of the special presentations during the INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE BIENNALE. Presented inside the headquarters of the Wielkopolska Spolka Gazownictwa (Great Poland Gas Company) on Grobla Street, it will consist of eleven works by the members of the oldest living generation of Poznan-based sculptors. Created during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, these works currently constitute the beginning of a collection to be created by the Great Poland Gas Company. The aim of the collection will be to prevent the achievements of a very interesting group of artists born around 1930-1940 from being scattered. Members of this group have participated in exhibitions of the SCULPTURE BIENNALE in Poznan since the event's inception.
Uwe Schoeln, Silikonheads, 2003
The 14th INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE BIENNALE will culminate on September 24th with the opening of a sculpture exhibition in the city of Bar-Le-Duc in the French province of Lorraine. Situated in the square in front of the General Council of the Department of Meuse, the exhibition will be part of the
"Nova Polska" Polish Season in France that has spanned this year. The presentation will consist of thirteen large sculptures and visual installations by thirteen young Polish artists, participants of the INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE BIENNALE. The project is a collaborative effort of the INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE BIENNALE, the government of Meuse and artists of the Lorraine region, who were the special guests of the 13th INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE BIENNALE in 2002.
Organizers of the 14th INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE BIENNALE:
"Castle" Center of Culture / Centrum Kultury "Zamek"
ul. Swiety Marcin 80/82, 61-809 Poznan
tel. (+48 61) 853 60 81
tel./fax (+48 61) 852 05 03
www.zamek.poznan.pl
Zwiazek Polskich Artystow Rzezbiarzy - Oddzial w Poznaniu
Urzad Miasta Poznania
Urzad Marszalkowski Wojewodztwa Wielkopolskiego