WORLD OF ART
School for Curators and Critics of Contemporary Art
Season 14
And what if … Institution: alternative scenario
International workshop
Gallery Labirynt, Lublin, Poljska
October 5–7, 2012
Workshop is part of the project Giant Step
Curators: Anna Smolak, Magdalena Ujma
Curator for Gallery Labirynt: Magdalena Linkowska
Workshop around an ideal institution is an attempt at confronting notions related to institutional critique with individual practices and attitudes towards institution of culture. We will ponder whether the institutional model contradicts the idea of creative work, whether permanent conflict is inherent in the institution of art, and how to cope with it and use it constructively.
The And what if… Institution: alternative scenario workshop is part of the Giant Step research platform within which four European institutions – Van Abbemuseum (Eindhoven), Mostyn Gallery (Wales), Vessel (Bari) and Galeria Labirynt in Lublin – analyse, individually and in dialogue, various political, economic and cultural determinants of artistic production within institutions as well as the potential of art critique as a tool for change.
Participants: Zuzana Bodnárová, Karolina Breguła, Gemma Medina Estupiñán, Milovan Farronato, Siân Green, Marianna Hovhannisyan, Magdalena Linkowska, Milan Mikuláštík, Saša Nabergoj, Anna Ostoya, Anna Smolak, Francesco Scasciamacchia, Waldemar Tatarczuk, Magdalena Ujma
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Workshop around an ideal institution is an attempt at confronting notions related to institutional critique with individual practices and attitudes towards institution of culture. We will ponder whether the institutional model contradicts the idea of creative work, whether permanent conflict is inherent in the institution of art, and how to cope with it and use it constructively.
Aware of the determinants of the functioning of contemporary institutions (influence of cultural policy, hierarchies and strategies of government, economic constraints, information policy as well as the historical and geographical context), we want to give free rein to imagination and treat the gallery as an institution with a potential to assume various forms, depending on the wishes, aspirations, knowledge and needs of those participating in our session.
At the same time, the project is carried out in relation to a specific venue, and we believe in the power of genius loci and its effect on the processes taking place inside.
We are interested in various models of work and collaboration, in creating bonds and broadening the knowledge collectively as well as in acquiring self-awareness through contact, dialogue and creative confrontation.
Our goal is to create an artistic “think-tank”, a generator of ideas that would combine visionary imagination and practical experience and, consequently, infuse Galeria Labirynt with new energy. Depending on the effects of the workshop, we envisage a publication or exhibition inspired by the results of our work.
The And what if… Institution: alternative scenario workshop is part of the Giant Step research platform within which four European institutions – Van Abbemuseum (Eindhoven), Mostyn Gallery (Wales), Vessel (Bari) and Galeria Labirynt in Lublin – analyse, individually and in dialogue, various political, economic and cultural determinants of artistic production within institutions as well as the potential of art critique as a tool for change.