Exhibition "Minsk. Nonconformism of the 1980s"

Our platform became a partner of the documentary exhibition "Minsk. Nonconformism of the 1980s", which will be held from April 22 to May 10, 2015 in the gallery of modern art Ў.

, Media Project presents:

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Contemporary Art Gallery ""
April 22 - May 10, 2015

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Recently, the phenomenon of "Belarusian avant-garde" has been more and more frequently mentioned in the Belarusian (un)official cultural discourse. Collective and personal exhibitions of the bridge at that time were held several times (, , , , , , etc.), and a few years ago, an album was released in " " "Belarusian Avant-Garde of the 1980s", which remains actually the only document in which an attempt is made to document this phenomenon.

What time was it? Who were its key figures, and how did these artists survive and work against their circumstances? Who did they rely on and to whom did they address their manifestos? How was art understood, and why exactly did it become a space for the gesture of a free man? Finally, why avant-garde and why (so far) underground? These and other questions will have to be fully answered: this unique period for Belarusian culture has not been described or studied, and its archive still exists in the form of scattered artifacts stored in artists' apartments.

The documentary exhibition "Minsk. Nonconformism of the 1980s" is another appeal to this phenomenon and its presentation not through the works of mast_chak, but through artifacts, documents and stories that can convey and describe the atmosphere of those times. But "Minsk. Nonconformism of the 1980s" is not an exhibition of memories or nostalgia. First of all, we appeal to the younger generation, which does not know or has a fragmentary idea of that era. The events that took place then are directly or indirectly related not only to contemporary artistic processes in Belarus. In that time, revolutionary and defining in many respects, it is possible and necessary to seek answers to many questions that concern those who are trying to understand the space they live in and their place in it.

"We read in books about freedom, but we lived according to the ranking. And we were sad that we do not even have the right to the natural human right to be ourselves. As A. Platonov said, the people can live, but they cannot. For years we yearned and we waited, dreamed, cherished and loved freedom, and for all this we were clearly disliked by those who live more freely without freedom. It seemed that life would pass like this in dreams and regrets, in works recognized by no one except a few friends. And finally it happened and we can live at least a little... At official exhibitions, the day is yesterday, at such exhibitions - today, and tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow. How can one not be happy about it! Of course, it is happy for the artists that they have finally been given a chance, and happy for themselves: maybe, the minority will really be allowed to breathe fully, and not as if it takes something away from the majority and hinders it in some way. I congratulate the exhibition and its authors, thank you for the joy and hope. L. Chernyshova"

From the book of responses to the exhibition On the Collector, September 1987

The exhibition "Minsk. Nonconformism of the 1980s" will be a kind of response to the exhibition Genius Dilettantes, dedicated to avant-garde subcultures of the 1980s in Germany, which will be shown from April 23 at in Minsk.

Presentations and film screenings will take place within the exhibition, stay tuned for announcements.

Opening: April 22 at 19:00 in the Gallery of Contemporary Art Ў.

Schedule of events within the exhibition

April 23 (Thursday) – screening of newsreels and films from the archive of Yuriy Igrusha about the life of artists of the 1980s (G. Khatskevich, V. Sazykina, L. Rusova, I. Kashkurevich, A. Zhdanov, etc.), as well as the film " Underworld" (dir. Yu. Igrusha). Archival materials are on display for the first time.

April 28 (Tuesday) – presentation of the catalog of Igor Savchanka from the "pARTizan Collection". Screening of the film and conversation with Igor Savchenko.

April 29 (Wednesday) – performance by Dmitrii Plaks (Belarus/Sweden) and Filip Chmyr. Talk about Belarusian Climate. Together with the Union of Belarusian Writers.

May 2 (Saturday) – symposium "Model for Assembly: Constructing National Art History"*. Curator – Aleksei Borisionok.

May 5 (Tuesday) – presentation of Aleksey Zhdanov's catalog from the "pARTyzan Collection". Reading of Natalya Tatur's poems and memoirs, screening of an archive film about A. Zhdanov. The presenter is Dmitri Strotsev.

May 6 (Wednesday) – Belarusian Climate evening with the participation of Dmitriy Strotsav and representatives of the Belarusian Climate art group. Poetry reading, live accompaniment, screening of a film about the Belarusian Climate concert with the first body art on stage.

May 7 (Thursday) – presentation of Lyudmila Rusova's catalog from the "pARTyzan Collection". Display of unique chronicles. The performance of Iryna Anufrieva (Belarus/Sweden) together with musicians Ullia Narelius and Søren Runalf (Sweden) is a performance-dedication to Lyudmila Rusova.

All events start at 19:00.

Entrance is free!

_{Project partner: Belarusian contemporary art research platform KALEKTAR}