The 29th Biennial of Graphic Arts
The Event

Curator:

Beti Žerovc

Grand Prix:

Regina José Galindo

Grand Prix d’Honneur:

Miklós Erdély

23. 9.–20. 11. 2011

Number of artists in the main exhibition: 67

Number of artists with new commissioned works: *

Main exhibition venues:

International Centre of Graphic Arts (MGLC), Alkatraz Gallery, Jakopič Gallery, Cankarjev dom Gallery, Moderna galerija, Ljubljana, Vošnjakova ulica 4, Gosposvetska cesta 12

The art event − the central theme of the 29th Biennial of Graphic Arts − underwent a remarkable development in the 20th century and appears to this day as a privileged medium of expression. It is carried out by various protagonists within the field of contemporary visual art, in a wide range of forms. In the main exhibition, which sought to outline the energy and vitality of this trend of art events as fully as possible, a selection of art events was presented in four different groups, based on themes that are typical for contemporary art: generosity, violence, emptiness and the quest for the sacred and the ritualistic. These topics were also explicitly chosen because the events that deal with them also met the requirement of not being something new, neither in terms of their artistic iconographic motifs nor in terms of actual human or social practice. Events, in which we can with impunity partake in violence, in “shamanistic” violence to oneself, in Dionysian or absurdist ritual, or in the establishment of an idyllic communitas that shares a common meal are, indeed, activities that have been practised and even depicted for millennia.

With its main exhibition, as well as the extensive programme of artistic and theoretical events, the Biennial posed the pertinent questions: Why and how has the event become a suitable vehicle for a variety of artistic purposes, poetics and content? Is the choice of this medium a response to specific impulses and voids in our “desacralised” everyday existence? What are the potential dangers of such a development, given that it is happening more and more in the completely formalised framework of art institutions, which in recent decades not only house and exhibit contemporary art, but also commission and produce it? Thus, they have become commissioners of contemporary art of a similar type and scope as were once the aristocracy and the church.

Fifty-nine projects were presented in the main exhibition Event (nineteen on the theme of generosity, twenty-one on the theme of violence, nine on the theme of ritual and ten on the theme of emptiness). Eighteen artistic and seven theoretical events were held (marathon, symposium and five artist talks).

* Due to the specific concept of this Biennial, the artworks were generally not newly commissioned, but the artists participated by performing existing works or works especially adapted for Ljubljana.

 


Artists

  • Oreet Ashery
  • Robert Barry
  • Nina Beier, Marie Lund
  • Jerzy Bereś
  • Karmelo Bermejo
  • Anna Berndtson
  • Conny Blom
  • János Borsos
  • Tania Bruguera
  • Graciela Carnevale
  • Anetta Mona Chişa, Lucia Tkáčová
  • Marcus Coates
  • Brody Condon
  • Alain Della Negra, Kaori Kinoshita
  • Miklós Erdély, the Hungarian Writers Union (Unguarded Money, presentation of an action, carriedout in Budapest during the Hungarian Revoluton of 1956.)
  • Marco Evaristti
  • Ant Farm
  • Terry Fox
  • Dora García
  • Félix González-Torres
  • Núria Güell
  • Manuel Hartmann
  • Mária Hlavajová, Charles Esche (Once Is Nothing, presentation of an exhibition, curated as a part of the 2008 Brussels Biennial.)
  • Bababa International
  • Alfredo Jaar
  • Jaša
  • Enrique Ježik
  • Wang Jin
  • Regina José Galindo
  • San Keller
  • Daniel Knorr
  • Božena Končić Badurina
  • Gregor Kregar
  • Siniša Labrović
  • Liz Magic Laser
  • Marcello Maloberti
  • Teresa Margolles
  • Kris Martin
  • Dalibor Martinis
  • Dane Mitchell
  • Shana Moulton
  • Public Movement
  • Kusum Normoyle
  • OHO Group/The Šempas Family (Milenko Matanović, David Nez, Marko Pogačnik)
  • Serkan Özkaya
  • Kim Paton
  • Mark Požlep
  • Praxis (Brainard Carey, Delia Carey)
  • Franc Purg, Sara Heitlinger
  • Sal Randolph
  • Maruša Sagadin
  • Hans Schabus
  • Santiago Sierra
  • Mladen Stropnik
  • Szájjal és Aggyal Festők Világszövetsége
  • Tan Ting
  • Matej Andraž Vogrinčič
  • Anna Witt

International Jury

  • Dave Beech
  • Christian Höller
  • Urška Jurman
  • Ulay (Frank Uwe Laysiepen)

Other Exhibitions and Projects

Accompanying Programme

Publications

Biennale Organisation

Producer: International Centre of Graphic Arts (MGLC).
Co-producers: Cankarjev dom, Alkatraz Gallery, Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana, Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
Director of MGLC: Nevenka Šivavec.
Curator: Beti Žerovc.
Coordinator: Božidar Zrinski.
Exhibition Layout: Andrej Savski, Beti Žerovc.
Design of the Visual Identity: Vasja Cenčič.
Educational and Accompanying Programme: Lili Šturm, Karla Železnik
Concept and Coordination for the Marathon on The Event: Alenka Pirman, Karla Železnik, Beti Žerovc.
Concept of the Symposium: Beti Žerovc.
Symposium Coordination: Karla Železnik.
Public Relations and Promotion: Lili Šturm, Petra Klučar, Beti Žerovc.