The collective research “The Art of the Collective – The Case Zemlja” dealt with the Artists’ Association Zemlja (1929 – 1935), a socially engaged group of painters, sculptors, architects, workers, and peasants artists, one of the first examples of self-organized programmatic gathering of artists in Yugoslavia. Through a collective artistic endeavor, the group dissected the broader sociopolitical context of the interwar period. The historicization of “Case Zemlja” has raised an issue neglected by the existing narratives: the relationship between the members of the association and the social movements of that time. Our research took a closer look into how the artists understood the social function of their practice, and how the heteronomous critique of the autonomy of art resonated within the Association itself and the artistic field at large. Although almost an entire century separates us from Zemlja’s collective work and its search for the answer to the question of what is leftist art, art created collectively and intended for the collective, these questions are still relevant today.
“The Political School for Artists (And All Those Interested)” is an educational program which aims to provide insight into the critique of political economy, the basic theoretical concepts and history of capitalism, and the basics of socialism as an alternative to capitalism, with a special emphasis on the role and place of the art in the above. Program started in 2016, and motivation to set up a continuous curriculum of such a profile is twofold: on the one hand, it is a reaction to the contemporary transformations in the field of education, art education in particular, and on the other hand, a reaction to the transformations in the political field and the consequences of its restructuring on the art.
The presentation was recorded, to watch the video on YouTube click below:
BIO BLOK: BLOK is a curatorial collective which operates in the field of socially engaged art. Our projects are designed and realised as platforms for collective work of artists, curators, researchers, political activists and anyone interested in the politicization of art, democratization of culture and reflection of artistic practices from the perspective of their social and production conditions. BLOK organizes educational and discursive programs, exhibitions, produces art works, long-term research projects, and publications. Since 2016, the collective has been running BAZA (eng. base) for art and activism, a venue for education, production of contemporary art, and organizing artists, cultural workers and activists in struggle for better working conditions and democratization of culture. Read more at www.blok.hr
The lecture showcases and contextualizes a selected series of performances that were a part of KONTEJNER’s programmes in the last 5 years: performances interlinked with science and technology, which expand the human body, challenge social paradigms, transform our senses and reveal new areas of pleasures.
The lecture was recorded, to watch the video on YouTube click below:
BIO KONTEJNER: KONTEJNER is an NGO from Zagreb founded in 2002 and engaged in curatorial work, organization of art festivals and public events, education and social theory. Our main field of interest is progressive contemporary art which investigates the role and meaning of science, technology and the body in our society, focusing on the relevant and current phenomena, especially within provocative, fascinating and intriguing subjects and topics, as well as those perceived by the society as taboos. Until today, we have curated and organized over 120 exhibitions, performances, lectures, workshops and presentations of international and Croatian artists, theoreticians, philosophers, scientists, hackers and innovators in Europe, USA, Canada, Japan and China. Read more on www.kontejner.org