The Realism Question

Romanian Cultural Institute, Stockholm

Epilogue to Bucharest Biennale 4. The Realism Question has its starting point in the hypothesis that a new form of realism emerged at the end of the 1960s and in the 1970s on both sides of the Iron Curtain in Europe. At roughly the same time, in former socialist Romania, artists like Paul Neagu and Ion Grigorescu attempted to distance themselves from the dominant artistic practice known as Socialist Realism. The show follows these traces from the past into the present, searching for today's descendants of those early endeavours.

comunicato stampa

curated by Felix Vogel

Participants: Magnus Bärtås (Stockholm), Kalle Brolin (Göteborg), Ion Grigorescu (Bukarest), Joana Hajdithomas & Khalil Joreige (Beirut), Groupes Medvedkine (Besanςon/Sochaux), Asier Mendizabal (Bilbao), Paul Neagu (Bukarest/London), Lina Selander (Stockholm) and Mona Vatamanu & Florin Tudor (Bukarest).

The Realism Question has its starting point in the hypothesis that a new form of realism emerged at the end of the 1960s and in the 1970s on both sides of the Iron Curtain in Europe. In Great Britain and France, for instance, independent film groups such as The Medvedkine Groups produced militant films where members of the working class were given a degree of power over the act of representation. Turning against the established hierarchies of representation of the time, they were taking on the challenge of combining aesthetics and politics to generate innovative films.

At roughly the same time, in former socialist Romania, artists like Paul Neagu and Ion Grigorescu attempted to distance themselves from the dominant artistic practice known as Socialist Realism. Not only through their actions, but also through their position outside the mandatory system of representation of the time, they were able to make visible what was obscured. These artistic practices not only interrupted the sanctioned structures and established a form of disagreement, but they also articulated a new way of addressing the real by creating the possibility for a prospective reality.

The Realism Question follows these traces from the past into the present, searching for today's descendants of those early endeavours with works by Kalle Brolin, Asier Mendizabal, Lina Selander, and Mona Vatamanu & Florin Tudor, among others. In an experimental set-up, and by exhibiting artworks in a wide range of different media dealing with different contexts and times, The Realism Question examines conceptions and practices tangent to the notion of realism. Rather than coming with some definitive answers, the exhibition will breed questions emerging from the central one: What is at stake if we talk about realism today?

Image: Ion Grigorescu, Marea demonstraţie de 23 August, sărbătoarea eliberării, 1974

Opening 3 June 2010, 18-21
At 19 discussion about Bucharest Biennale 4, with Magnus Bärtås, Kalle Brolin, Lina Selander and Felix Vogel. Moderator: Helena Holmberg

Romanian Cultural Institute
Skeppsbron 20, Gamla Stan, Stockholm
Hours: 10a.m. to 5p.m.
free admission

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permanent link

Romanian Cultural Institute

IN ARCHIVIO [3]

The Realism Question
dal 2/6/2010 al 25/9/2010