GALERIA 1
Ars Baltica
I International Triennial of Photographic Art
- Return to the Past - the End of Utopia?
------------Exhibition opening: 12.09, 6 p.m. and on view until 2.11
------------Curator: Enno Kaufhold, co-operation: Marek Grygiel
Pia Arke (Denmark)
Self portrait with Cousin
Greenland, 1992
50 x 40cm
Exhibition 1. Ars Baltica - Triennial of Photography, 'Return to the past - the end of utopia' constitutes the first undertaking on large scale, which came into existence thanks to the co-operation between the Baltic Sea region countries.
The idea of this exhibition emerged some years ago. It was initiated by Barbara Straka, and further developed by Dr Enno Kaufhold, a critic and photography historian from Berlin.
The ceremonial opening of the exhibition took place in Szlezwik in North Germany in April 1997. One day symposium was held the day after, with the presence of artists and invited critics.
The exhibition has already been presented in several European cities (Berlin, Dresden, Helsinki, Tallinn and Odessa). After closing the exhibition in CCA it will also be presented in Poznań in late autumn, during the Month of Photography held there.
Klaus Elle (Germany)
From the series Photo-Bio-Graphy
1987, 30 x 41cm
Winzer Kluglein (Germany)
The Look, 1989-1993
127 x 220cm
Matthias Leupold (Germany)
Woman Activist in the Trade Organisation, 1989
Picture references Will Schestak
Woman Activist in the Trade Organisation, 1953
Oil on canvas
'Return to the past' is an attempt to consider achievements of old masters with the use of contemporary means. It is an attempt to reach the immemorial problems stated by artists in the light of reality changing so quickly. The exhibition also pays a tribute to the achievements of former generations and tries to give guidelines to new interpretations of contemporary art from the Baltic Sea region countries.
Is there something what could provoke the mutual penetration of ideas and inspiration needed in artistic activity (like economic co-operation of Hanza cities in the past)?
Peeter Maria Laurits (Estonia)
Cain and Abel from the series Fables
1994, 40 x 60 cm
Kapa (Finland)
From the series Finds in Time, 1987
36 x 36cm
Are there any processes occurring at the moment, which will lead to cultural integration of these countries, or will the ideas, aesthetics and ways of mutual penetration of ideas be different? Perhaps there are some similarities, congruencies, or common roots? Can cultural and geographic differences be factors which determine achievements of artists from these countries? Does so recently emphasised individualism annihilate all dreams about harmony and unity in art? There are many more questions of this type, which could be asked in the connection to the works of 13 artists taking part in this exhibition. Nowadays, when Europe unifies and the co-operation between countries gets closer and closer, these questions become more and more crucial and urgent. (more)
Esko Mannikko (Finland)
Savukoski, 1994 (1)
Sodankyla, 1993 (2)
next
-------------
go back
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Centre for Contemporary Art, Ujazdowski Castle
Al.Ujazdowskie 6, 00-461 Warsaw, Poland
tel: (48 22) 628 12 71-3, (48 22) 628 76 83 ; fax: (48 22) 628 95 50
e-mail:csw@ikp.atm.com.pl