Jon Brunberg
Jan Christensen
Markus Copper
Charlotte Enstrom
Ulrika Ferm
Lise Harlev
Gustav Hellberg
Mattias Harenstam
Lasse Lau
Lise Nelleman
Kristofer Paetau
Karin Persson
Lars Ramberg
Kirstine Roepstorff
Egill Saebjornsson
Per Teljer
The Southbond Project brings attention to the unprecedented presence of Nordic artists in the city of Berlin. Over the last couple of years Berlin has attracted artists from the Nordic countries in large numbers. They have chosen the German capital, partly because of the relative ease by which they can find accommodations and studios there, but mostly because of Berlin's growing reputation as a dynamic city for contemporary art.
case study of an imaginary community
THE SOUTHBOUND PROJECT brings attention to the unprecedented
presence of Nordic artists in the city of Berlin. Over the last
couple of years Berlin has attracted artists from the Nordic
countries in large numbers. They have chosen the German capital,
partly because of the relative ease by which they can find
accommodations and studios there, but mostly because of Berlin's
growing reputation as a dynamic city for contemporary art.
The Southbound project is divided into two main events: an art
exhibition presenting 16 Nordic artists who lives and works in
Berlin, and a seminar reflecting the themes as decribed above.
THE SOUTHBOUND EXHIBITION
We warmly welcome you to the opening of the Southbound exhibition
Opening: Friday March 14, 18.00-21.00
The exhibition continues until April 13, 2003.
Opening hours Wednesday-Sunday 12.00-18.00.
Participating artists: Jon Brunberg (S), Jan Christensen (N), Markus
Copper (FIN), Charlotte Enström (S), Ulrika Ferm (FIN), Lise Harlev
(DK), Gustav Hellberg (S), Mattias Härenstam (N), Lasse Lau (DK),
Lise Nelleman (DK), Kristofer Paetau (FIN), Karin Persson (S), Lars
Ramberg (N), Kirstine Roepstorff (DK), Egill Sæbjörnsson (ISL), Per
Teljer (S).
Find detailed info on the project and the artists at:
http://www.soc.nu/southbound. A catalogue with essays and artist
presentations will be available.
Location: Leipziger Strasse 54, Berlin, U-Bahn (U2) Spittelmarkt
___________
THE SEMINAR
will be held at Hamburger Bahnhof, Museum für Gegenwart - Berlin,
Invalidenstraße 50-51.
Saturday March 15 between 12.00 18.00.
With the realisation of a seminar in relation to the exhibition, the
original idea was to create room for a discussion about certain
problems, which arose during the planning stages of Southbound. First
of all, it is somewhat problematic to arrange a show that is
fundamentally based on geographical boundaries. On the one hand, an
exhibition based on the nationalities of the participating artists
necessarily implies that there exists a certain common ground or
x{2018}national spirit.' On the other hand, it also contributes to a
certain national branding of each artist. One runs the risk of
getting caught in a cliché, which does not reflect the dynamics of
migration and which seems to do more harm than good for the
production and presentation of contemporary art. That said, it should
also be pointed out that the show reflects a network that exists
between a group of artists and art theoreticians living outside the
Nordic countries.
Considering these problems, we decided to focus on the ideological
structures of funding policies. As the show is geographically
connected to Germany and to the Nordic regions, we invited
representatives from institutions, who are supporting artists and
projects in these countries, as well as artists and theoreticians,
who are working with issues of migration politics and nationalism.
Our aim is to gain further insight into the ideologies behind the
funding structures and, with this knowledge, to discuss whether it
makes sense to think in terms of national borders today. The seminar
is not only an opportunity for the institutions to get together and
to discuss constructively their daily pragmatic work at a more
abstract level. It also provides a possibility to create a dialogue
between the institutions and a social context a dialogue that reaches
beyond the limited communities of art scenes and national
constructions.
Principles of Funding
Adrienne Goehler, Hauptstadtkulturfonds, Berlin
Marita Muukkonen, nifca - Nordic Institute for Contemporary Art, Helsinki
Dr. Fokke Peters, Bundeskulturstiftung, Halle
Jan Kenneth Weckman, artist, Helsinki
Dr.Ursula Zeller, IFA - Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, Stuttgart
Portable Identity/Imaginary Communities
Dr. Bülent Diken, Lancaster University, Dept. of Sociology, Lancaster
Gavin Jantjes, Director Heine-Onstad Kunstsenter, Höviksudden, Oslo
Prof. Sarat Maharaj, Goldsmiths College, Dept. of Art History, London
Hanna Styrmisdóttir, Reykjavik Municipal Art Museum, Reykjavik
In the image: Jon Brunberg, Disjunction (and nowhere to turn to), 2000. Overview.
CONTACT
For information about the project in general and the exhibition:
Gustav Hellberg: +49(0)30-44036064 / +49(0)179-5548563
gustavhellberg@12move.de or
Jon Brunberg: +49(0)175-323 42 79, jon@soc.nu.
For detailed info about the seminars :
Lotte Møller: +49(0)30-44731686 / +49(0)163-4716528, lottemoeller@hotmail.com.