Vesna Bukovec: Solidarity

Tuesday, June 27th, 2023 | Exhibitions

Razstava: Solidarity
Lokacija: gallery raum AU, Partizanska pot 12, Slovenj Gradec, SI
Datum: 30 June – 30 August 2023
Opening: Friday, 30 June 2023, 7 pm

Curator: Jernej Kožar (KGLU)

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
The exhibition is part of the project Journey through Arte Utile (AU), organised by the public interest NGO raum AU in collaboration with the The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Koroška (KGLU) and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia. The project aims to explore and update the collection and artistic practice of Pino Poggi and is conceived as a series of research residencies with invited artists. Last year, artists Tadej Pogačar and Tobias Putrih explored Arte Utile, and this year Vesna Bukovec started her journey.

“Researching the archive of Pino Poggi and his useful art Arte Utile, I was particularly drawn to the segment entitled AU process. Poggi’s method of active communication with the public involves a critical, social and pedagogical process that visually, verbally and dramaturgically manifests itself in the AU artwork. Identifying current social issues and seeking a dialogue with the wider public is an approach I have used several times in my past work and in various collaborations, e.g. in the KOLEKTIVA group (with Metka Zupanič and Lada Cerar) and with Ana Čigon and Tia Čiček.

Reflecting on current social problems and the less than positive outlook for the future, I wonder what is most lacking in our society today that could change the way we think and act? Rather than holding up a mirror to the pain and hopelessness, I try to think about changes and ways to work towards a better future. I also invite the audience to actively reflect and participate. In the exhibition we will answer questions such as: What does solidarity mean to us personally? Where do we see it? Do we practice it and how? Why is there not enough of it and why do we need it at all? How to learn it?”

As a proposal and reflection on the meaning of solidarity, the exhibition presents a new drawing Solidarity (2023). Alongside is a series of eleven drawings about the labour movement organization that shaped my family, Heritage (2022), and a drawing about young people’s protest demands for a better future, A Different World is Possible (2021).

Exhibition info (pdf)
arte-utile.net

Talk with the curator Jernej Kožar, recorded in July 2023
Production: raum AU, Slovene/English subtitles: Lana Praprotnik

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