Spoken Exhibitions Poster
The "Spoken Exhibitions" project consists of a series of lectures, plays and evens led by independent art critics with the goal of engaging the public into a discussion on the most interesting themes and phenomena in Polish art, architecture, design and sound
This series of curatorial guided tours through a wide range of genres and media is led by the youngest generation of artists and critics brought together by the Warsaw-based Bęc Zmiana Foundation in the tradition of conceptual art of the 1960s and '70s. They combine the tradition of conceptual art with the format of the radio, whilst using the experience in the field of sound art.
The narrative of the exhibition creates a soundtrack interspersed with archival material (eg, pre-recorded speech fragments of artists, architects, cultural theorists). The result is something along the lines of a radio play which presents a broad spectrum of Polish culture in its most up-to-date manifestations. This setup, accompanied by a 'libretto'booklet, allows for mobility which can easily be presented in various configurations and locations, adapted to the needs of each individual event.
The series was presented in several European capitals: Berlin, Brussels, London, Kiev, Madrid and Moscow. The first stop was Brussels on the 26th of August. During the evening meetings prominent critics and curators of the young generation: Sebastian Cichocki, Grzegorz Piątek, Jarosław Trybuś and Michał Libera present the most interesting phenomena and the latest trends in Polish art, architecture, design and sound art.
The exhibition captures the voice of the independent, lesser-known side of Polish art and artists, architects, designers and composers creating in Poland within an innovative format that goes beyond the traditional exhibition.
"Spoken Exhibitions" are accompanied by a booklet and CD with the soundtrack by Patrick Zakrocki. The series has been prepared by the Bęc Zmiana Foundation in cooperation with local partners in all five cities. The project has been cofinanced by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.
Programme Schedule:
"Spoken Exhibitions" - Curators and Contributors
- Sebastian Cichocki (1975) is an art critic, essayist, curator and sociologist who is currently chief curator of the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw. He is curator of Yael Bartana’s exhibition at the Polish Pavilion for the 2011 Venice Biennale.
- Michał Libera (1979) studied at Warsaw University/ Institute of Philosophy/Sociology, since 2003 member of Polish Academy of Science and PhD Studies on time and memorization in music performance. Concerts with Noël Akchoté, Phil Minton, Frédéric Blondy, Mikolaj Trzaska, Macio Moretti.
- Grzegorz Piątek (1980) is an architecture critic and curator based in Warsaw, Poland. Curated architecture-related exhibitions and art projects such as the exhibition 'Hotel Polonia. The Afterlife of Buildings', awarded a Golden Lion at the 11th Architecture Biennale in Venice (2008), Open:Poland. Architecture and Identity (RIBA, London 2009, with Rob Wilson), Mountains for Warsaw! (Warsaw 2009), Transit (Warsaw 2010), Pleasure (Warsaw 2010).
- Jarosław Trybuś (1976) is an art historian and curator. Expert in 20th century Polish architecture built and unbuilt. Trybuś curated the exhibition 'Hotel Polonia. The Afterlife of Buildings', awarded a Golden Lion at the 11th Architecture Biennale in Venice (2008). He is now working on his PhD on unfulfilled visions of future Warsaw from the 1930's. He is publishing a guide book to Warsaw's modernist housing estates.
- Patryk Zakrocki (1974) composer, musician, multi-instrumentalist, improviser and promoter of culture who has been active on the Warsaw improvised music and independent art scene since 1999. Member of Sza/Za music duo with Paweł Szamburski.
Project cofinanced by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.
Source: Bęc Zmiana Foundation, Adam Mickiewicz Institute