EUROPE XXL - Eastern Europe Festival

Europe XXL- Eastern Europe Festival

Do we have the solidarity within us? I don’t think so. (...) I don’t know what is East Europe now. I know what I can bring to Europe.
Dan Perjovschi

Europe XXL festival was organized by city Lille and Lille 3000 society.
It started on 14th of March with a pageant parade ,and for the next 4 months will be full of artistic events presenting the Eastern Europe culture. This is the opportunity to know something more about this area, to ask some new questions. Visual art is the most interesting part of festival. Important curators and influential artists from the Eastern Europe were invited to take part in this event. Political or social issues are the most popular topics of their works.

At the festival we can see the exhibitions prepared by curators like Iara Boubnova, Elena Sorokina, Filippo Poli, Federico Zanfi, Caroline Naphegyi.
Artists who take part in group exhibitions: Dan Perjovschi, AES+F (Russie), Maja Bajevic (Bosnie/Allemagne), Blue Noses (Russie), Luchezar Boyadjiev (Bulgarie), Pavel Braila (Moldavie), Aristarkh Chernyshev (Russie), Nina Fisher et Maroan El Sani (Allemagne),Vadim Fishkin (Russie/Slovénie), IRWIN (Slovénie),Cristina Lucas (Espagne), Carsten Nicolai (Allemagne), Roman Ondak (Slovaquie), Sean Snyder (USA /Ukraine), Nedko Solakov (Bulgarie), Oleg Kulik (Russie), Deimantas Narkevicius, (Lituanie), Krassimir Terziev (Bulgarie), Clemens von Wedemeyer (Allemagne), Libia Castro et Olafur Olafsson (Espagne, Islande, Pays-Bas), Monika Sosnowska (Pologne), Adrian Paci (Albanie, Italie), Vladimir Nikolic (Serbie), Pierre Bismuth (France) Matteo Ghidoni, Katarzyna Teodorczuk, Daniel Pario Perra, Tobias Zielony, Deniz Gul, Hariklia Hari, Veronika Zapletalovŕ, Isabella Sassi, Xavier Arenňs, Cecilia Pirovano, Federica Verona, Francisca Benětez, Huseyin Alprekin / Raquel Friera, Nůria Guell, Sofie Thorsen, Bas Princen, Can Altay, Marina Ballo Charmet, Markos Stamenkovic, Luz Mundos, Tadej Pogacar, Banu Cennetoglu, Manuela Schininŕ, Paloma Merchan Taribo, Theoharis David, Veronika Zapletalova, Dennis Gul, Laura Marte, Danica Dakic, Sejla Kameric, Erbossyn Meldibekov, Milica Tomic, Igor Grubic, Djamshed Kholikov, Sophia Tabatadze, Stealth.unlimited (Ana Dzokic and Marc Neelen), Abilsait Atabekov, Gulnara Kasmalieva/Muratbek Djoumaliev, David Maljkovic, Marjetica Potrc, Igor Eskinja, Christoph Weber, Alexander Ugay, Elena Kovylina, Chto Delat Group (Olga Egorova Tsaplya), Dmitry Vilensky, Natalia Pershina (Gliuklya), Nikolai Oleinikov, Huseyin Bahri Alptekin, Kutlug Ataman, Bashir Borlakov, Osman Bozkurt, Hussein Chalayan, Burak Delier, Koken Ergun, Inci Eviner, Katja Eydel, Deniz Gül, Omer Ali Kazma, Servet Kocyigit, Corey Mc Corkle, Antoine Ignace Melling, Aydan Murtezaoglu, Ceren Oykut, Serkan Ozkaya, Sener Ozmen et Erkan Ozgen, Camila Rocha, Sarkis, Erinç Seymen, Hale Tenger, Pinar Yolaçan et Aksel Zeydan.

The Krasnals represent Poland with an individual exhibition:„Brothers In Arms/Last Supper” in Espace le Carre (from 13th March till 30th April).
On a later date, will be a group exhibition from Poland organized by Zamek Ujazdowski. Curators:Stach Szabałowski and Marcin Krasny. Artists: Olaf Brzeski, Grzegorz Drozd, Tomasz Mróz, Twožywo, Jan Smaga, Jadwiga Sawicka, Marek Kijewski, Wojciech Bakowski, Artur Malewski, Tomek Kowalski, Norman Leto, Konrad Smoleński, Tomasz Kozak, Radek Szlaga, Laura Pawela.

For The Krasnals- part of the answers for a question: "What is Eastern Europe now?"

Iara Boubnova: „There is not such a thing like culture and art of Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe itself is artificial, bureaucratic, administrative nomination of something in between geography, history, and politics. It’s not so much about people, it’s not so much about us, and not so much about culture.”
Dan Perjovschi: “Geography for me is tricky. The Russians are gone! Twenty years later it’s another planet! (…)Do we have the solidarity within us? I don’t think so. (...) I don’t know what is East Europe now. I know what I can bring to Europe. (…) I was in the cooperative system, they forced me to work together. Now I want to be alone! But I don’t address [my art] to myself, I address it to everybody.”
IRWIN: “We started in 92’. That time one of the main reasons what we did was that we wanted to have our own country and artistic autonomy. But during these years situation changed a lot. (…) We are living in the conditions we are put in”
Nedko Solakov: “We need Utopias in terms we need to hope for a kind of a better life.”
Lachezar Boyadjiev: “The West was just as affected by the fall of Berlin wall as the East. In the West it was more like a psychological transformation, whereas in the East it was the transformation of the whole society, economy, political structures and so on.”

As The Krasnals we consider history as an important and influential but we want to create future ourselves, start a new age of art. Project "Brothers in Arms / Last Supper" is our farewell with the history and because of that we can focus on a new problems of reality, reality which create new vision of art.

Thierry Lesueur- main coordinator of initiating committee Lille 3000:
"We present artists from Moscow, Kazakhstan, but the centre of our interest is Istanbul. It made us ask the question about Europe borders , and change view of Europe itself which most of French people have. The artists who came to Lille from many different countries have got a new point of view on European issues. It can be quite surprising for us, and the beginning of international debate about European space. Turkish issue is one of most discussed topics in France. We hope that Europe in size XXL will help us to ask questions what is Europe now, where are borders, who is part of it, and who is not. If today in the time of crisis our way of life can still be the same? We will try to find answers for this questions within next 4 months."

Based on artists works and curators visions we can get an impression that Eastern Europe is rather an artificial expression. It treat more about geographic area then common tradition and culture. After the end of communism artists became individualists, and the countries are no longer community.

Opening “Brothers in arms / Last Supper“, Lille, 13 March

Our text read at the opening:

Thank you that you came to see this special army which is the artist and his fellows who inspire his art.
But as you will notice, these persons on the paintings represent groups of interest of left art tendencies, probably in Europe, but for sure in Poland.
So these are subjects of interest connected with social problems, politics, like ecology, feminism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, national minorities. But also spheres that artist is dependent strongly on – like particular special philosophers, art critics and curators.

With these 13 persons on 13 paintings we show actually the Polish art created by artists born in 70s. Why? Because they are now in the mainstream, are the most known.

In our art we talk a lot about art manipulation. But in what aspect? Everybody knows that art is the perfect tool for politics, economy to manipulate, to spread its propaganda. And nowadays when it seems like the times of manipulation have passed away, communism disappeared a long time ago, art is still dependent on politics. For example contemporary art in Poland is hold by the well educated leftists, and in one of the books that they printed – volumes of Lenin with Zizek’s words – they call the artists to spread their left ideas.

We know that there is the strong left tradition in France and we wish to have the similar in Poland. We wish a lot to have a real left party or society who helps the people in practice. But in Poland it mainly looks for money from the taxpayers, take care only for its interests, and uses poor people as the topics in its books.
Politics is strictly connected with art market and commercialism, as all art about post communistic times is the best selling one, has its place in the best public and commercial art institutions, galleries.

But if in Europe the situation is similar like in Poland that you can say looking at this Polish example.

We call the young artists for more self-confidence, individuality, independence, for brave and to avoid fashion tricks and art market conditions. Art market and art world became so clear that it needs some strong personalities that would provide some mess and provoke new questions. That’s why we want to be anonymous by the way – to avoid clichés of our personality, age, education, what would put us to some special drawer.

We wish that art is strong by itself, no matter who did it, where the artist comes from and whom he knows.
At least in Poland, in the art field, protection is quite strong and young artists don’t experience the contestation period at all, they immediately make agreement with the mainstream, taking care about their career.
And from our point of view this is the sick situation and leads to stagnation and lack of seeing the truth.
So we are The Krasnals, The Pixies, Les Lutins, immaterial creatures, that with some humor that we love, destabilize, deconstruct some things not only in the world around art, but also inside the art world! We feel this is good for art and we just want to do it!

But we are not quite logic as it can seem – we are against tricks and mainstream stagnation, but we use as you see the same tricks! Why? Maybe to have possibility to say what you just heard in this place, not only to a few people living around us in Poland. And for us paradox is a huge inspiration, then art creation is not boring and becomes fascinating for us!
Illogic, absurd, provocation joined with a good fun are the things that The Krasnals love!!!

Thank you!

project “Brothers in arm / Last Supper “

The artist born in 70s and his Left court rule today art, but in these crazy changing times, we observe how they slowly and slowly pass away from the first rows. Generally left team makes place for avant-garde ideas representatives, what they will be is not clear yet.
So our project is our tribute to today artist!
The group of people, united by one main mission and idea, celebrate their Last Supper.
Except the “artist” - there are 12 apostles. They all create the artist and the artist creates them. Despite this, they are also 12 personalities belonging to this artist. Apart from all of these names, each figure has the label “Judas”.


- Artist – Wilhelm Sasnal – the most popular artist painter in Poland


- Feminist – Doda –trendy pop singer beloved by Polish masses, criticized by Polish intelligence


- Ecologist – two headed Kaczyński (side effect of bad ecology)


- Jew – Łukasz Gorczyca – one of the top Polish gallery owners – runs Raster Gallery. Jewish subject is always top for Polish serious art.


- Curator – Adam Szymczyk – the most important person in 2009 in the ranking created by Obieg.pl (The Krasnals took the last – 100 place)


- Leftist – Sławomir Sierakowski – leader of Polish Left fanatics, loves contemporary art which can promote his ideas


- Ideologist – Slavoy Zizek – you can’t create anything if you are not in the proper context prepared by volumes of trendy books


- Critic – Jakub Banasiak – his past radical opinions changed recently to advertisement of mainstream and are as empty as the baloon.


- Catholic – Jerzy Popiełuszko – a real hero and positive representative of Catholicism from the communistic history. Polish Leftists are fighting against big influence of church on politics and everyday life in Poland.


- Nazi – Piotr Uklański – the artist who became famous and rich thanks to Nazi. The most popular and the most expensive artwork that he sold was showing photos of actors playing the role of Nazis in different movies.


- historic hero – Lech Wałęsa – historic heroes subjects are quite cool for 70s annals. Lech Wałęsa was the leader of Solidarność, also former president of Poland and received the Noble Peace Prize. He is still young and influential for our history, destroyed the communism in Poland, fought for freedom of our country.


- representatives of national minority – Simon Mole – controversial person, he consciously infected Polish girls with HIV. Died in Polish prison. Cause of death unknown.


- disabled – Artur Żmijewski – known from exploiting disabled persons for his art and promotion, what for us is completely unmoral. One of his favorite methods is mental terror, for example on past prisoners of concentrate camps. We think we should keep respect for these people and it’s inhuman to exploit their misery.

- gay – additional person - could be everyone from represented persons, but homophobia is still too strong in Poland. It is still dangerous shame and unacceptable in Polish society to come out and live normally with your real sexual identity. This invisible, anonymous hero is our protest against homophobia in Poland.

There are 12 persons, they all create the artist and the artist creates them. Despite this, they are also 12 personalities belonging to this artist. Apart all of these names, each figure has the label “Judas”.

14th painting - call to contemporary artist:

The Krasnals in Lille 3000 / Europe XXL festival

In March and April our collective will represent Poland in Lille at the Lille 3000 / Europe XXL festival with the exhibition “Brothers in arms / Last Supper “

Opening - on March 13th at 6.30,
at l'Espace Le Carré
Angle rue des Archives / rue de la Halle, Lille

The exhibition will last till 30 April.


http://www.mairie-lille.fr/fr/Culture/Agenda_culturel/brothers-in-arm-last

http://www.mairie-lille.fr/fr/Culture/Agenda_culturel

http://lilletourism.com/document/DP%20EUROPE%20XXL.pdf s.26

The project “Brothers in arms / Last Supper” presents the intimate relationship between an artist and his 12 contemporaries who influence and inspire his art creations. This is the story about a stereotypical but real contemporary artist. The artist and his ‘Left court’ rule art today, but in these crazy changing times, we observe how they slowly and slowly pass away from the first rows.

We are interested in the problem of art market mechanisms. In our art creativity we analyse it by observing also important differences between the Polish and foreign art scenes. This ‘collective’ that we are presenting is specific characteristic of Poland and created by Polish main art institutions in cooperation with artists. There are many examples like Żmijewski, Althamer, Sasnal, Kozyra, Sosnowska, and so on.

So our project is our tribute to today’s artist and it is mainly for the ‘X generation’ born in the 1970’s.
What the canvases depict is a group of people, united by one main mission and idea celebrating their Last Supper.

There are 13 monumental paintings each measuring 270cm by 120cm, and each one presenting one person. They are formed into an open circle shape. This is to suggest an intimate atmosphere and with private space.

The paintings are done in monochromatic, rough colours, mainly black and white. Dark grey and black figures come off the white background. This way they directly refer to the realistic and the most popular trend in Polish painting done by artists born in the 70’s.

Except the main figure standing in the middle - the “artist” - there are 12 apostles:
A feminist, an ecologist, a Jew, a gay, a leftist, an ideologist, the critic, a catholic, a Nazi, a historic hero, representatives of a national minority and a disabled person. There are 12 persons, they all create the artist and the artist creates them. Despite this, they are also 12 personalities belonging to this artist. Apart from all of these names, each figure has the label “Judas”.

Visitors entering the exhibition space are the kind of participants in this specific ritual; being in dialog with the artist and his fellows. The dialog and participation are crucial, as they are the heroes of today’s social presence and the problems that surround us everywhere. People that come and communicate with 13 fellows on the exhibitions, communicate with them in everyday life as well. Social, economical and political matters are involved in national minorities, ecological, homosexual, Jewish, feministic, historical, religious, etc. problems.

So this is our tribute to this 13 persons collective and to all “Brothers in arms” spread worldwide in the society.

The Krasnals w Lille 3000 / Europe XXL festival

W marcu nasz kolektyw zaprezentuje Polskę w Lille we Francji na festiwalu
Lille 3000 / Europe XXL festival - ekspozycją “Brothers in Arms / Last Supper”.
Wernisaż odbędzie się 13 marca o godz. 18.30,
wystawę The Krasnals będzie można oglądać do końca kwietnia w l'Espace Le Carré w Lille.



“Brothers in arm / Last Supper” jest 13-sto częściową instalacją obrazów 270 x 120 cm tworzących otwarty krąg. 13 płócien to 13 postaci pozostających w szczególnej, intymnej relacji, reprezentujących 13 bohaterów kreujących obraz sztuki współczesnej. Postaci te są uniwersalne – mogą dotyczyć sztuki współczesnej na świecie, ale szczególnie odnoszą się do kontekstu polskiego.
Praca jest też skierowana na stworzenie wizualizacji stereotypu – symbolu – współczesnego artysty.
Pokazujemy artystę, którego wyraz jest już zamknięty, gotowy, dlatego jest to przedstawiciel twórców urodzonych w latach 70-tych.
Sztuka roczników 70-tych ogólnie zamyka się w „lewicowym dworze”, jeszcze silnie obecnym w dzisiejszych tendencjach, mimo pewnych oznak zmęczenia i potrzeby zmiany kierunków.

Projekt jest też naszym hołdem dla generacji X urodzonej w latach 70-tych, celebrującej swoją Ostatnią Wieczerzę. 12 postaci towarzyszących artyście reprezentuje 12 inspiracji, tendencji współczesnego artysty, stanowi też 12 składników jego osobowości i poglądów. 12 postaci to również przedstawiciele określonych grup społecznych biorących szczególny udział w dzisiejszym dyskursie.

12 apostołów stojących po bokach artysty to: feministka, ekolog, Żyd, gej, lewicowiec, ideolog, krytyk, katolik, nazista, bohater historyczny, reprezentant mniejszości narodowych, niepełnosprawny. W tym samym czasie do każdego przyczepiona jest również etykieta „Judasz”.

Krąg, w który wkracza widz, symbolizuje pewien rytuał zachodzący pomiędzy artystą i jego kompanami, ale również pomiędzy nimi a widzem. Tutaj wyeksponowany zostaje dialog istniejący w codziennym życiu, bohaterowie reprezentują różne obszary problemów i zainteresowań społecznych, których obecność szczególnie silnie zaznacza się poprzez przekaz medialny. Sprawy polityczne, społeczne, ekonomiczne, nierozerwalnie już dziś krążą wokół problemów mniejszości narodowych, gejów, ekologii, religii, źródeł historycznych, spraw żydowskich, itp.
Dlatego hołd, który składamy 13-sto osobowemu kolektywowi, jest również hołdem dla wszystkich „Brothers In arms” rozproszonych w całym współczesnym medialno-społecznym świecie.

Ale uwaga – jest również czternasty obraz, który z oddali zamyka krąg. Widnieje na nim apel do współczesnego artysty, nasze nawołanie do swobody twórczej.

http://www.mairie-lille.fr/fr/Culture/Agenda_culturel/brothers-in-arm-last

http://www.mairie-lille.fr/fr/Culture/Agenda_culturel

http://lilletourism.com/document/DP%20EUROPE%20XXL.pdf s.26