Zbigniew Kocysarz, "Shipyard's workers watching at sun eclipse, may 1966", photo: press release
The festival presents a collection of international art events, exhibitions, publications and on-line activities in an array of spaces and locations, including key venue Hall 90B, the premises of the former Gdańsk Shipyard
Starting its two-year journey in May 2011 with two exhibitions, the Alternativa programme aims to investigate the ways in which contemporary art intersects with politics. It seeks diverse modes of knowing, and is searching for a performative, affectual apparatus through which we may explore possible ways of existing in contemporaneity. The festival will support projects from Gdańsk-based arts organisations and artist groups, alongside a programme of local and international artists' commissions. Curated by Aneta Szylak, artistic director of Alternativa 2010-2012. Events and exhibitions will accumulate in the summers of 2011 and 2012.
For the exhibitions and events, a newly renovated industrial building - Hall 90B - serves as the key location. Located on the legendary premises of the former Gdańsk Shipyard, where the workers' strikes of 1980 began the process of the disintegration of the Communist bloc Summer 2011 programme features two main exhibitions:
Labour & Leisure - Praca i Wypoczynek is a project aimed at presenting an unusual look at labouring, that which lies beyond the typical presentation of the work and the worker, what is elusive, ephemeral. The project is curated by Aneta Szylak in collaboration with Maks Bochenek as curatorial assistant. The exhibition catalogue has been edited by Krzysztof Gutfrański and features over 20 Polish artists.
Estrangement - a project based on the question of the circulation of cultural forms. The concept developed through a series of discussions is to create a form for mutual translation and collaborative work that is not restricted to one cultural format. The exhibit seeks to capture the tension between European cultures and what was once constructed as the 'Orient', investigated from different European cultural contexts of London, Gent and Gdansk, as well as Sulaimany and Hawler in Iraqi Kurdistan. Forms found and "everyday life" are the starting points for shaping the issues and cause decay. Curated by Aneta Szylak and Hiwa K. The exhibition catalogue has been edited by Francesca Recchia.
The festival is organised by the Wyspa Institute of Art in collaboration with the City of Gdańsk and Gdańsk 2016. Gdańsk is a candidate for the title of the 2016 European Capital of Culture Candidate. Gdańsk 2016 principal philosophy of candidature is 'Freedom of Culture, Culture of Freedom'.
The Wyspa Institute of Art has been the home of the Wyspa Progress Foundation since September 2004. It is an innovative artistic organisation combining the presentation of contemporary art with deliberations on the shape of social culture. Aneta Szylak is curator and art theorist, co-founder and director of the institute.
Alternativa is supported by the City of Gdansk and obtains additional support from the Province of Pomerania, European Union, Shipyard City, Pro Helvetia, IASPIS, Danish Embassy in Warsaw and the Delfina Foundation. The project is taking place in partnership with the Gdańsk 2016 office.
Exhibitions run from May 29 till September 30, 2011. Opening party: May 28, 2010 at 19:00.
For a detailed programme and more information see: www.alternativa.org.pl
Source: press materials, www.alternativa.org.pl