Joze Barsi
Attila Csorgo
Tacita Dean
Jimmie Durham
Maria Thereza Alves
Leif Elggren
Vadim Fiskin
Ceal Floyer
Alexander Gutke
CM von Hausswolff
Rivane Neuenschwander
Goran Petercol
Werner Reiterer
John Wood
Paul Harrison
Livia Paldi
Gregor Podnar
An exhibition and publication project that derives, in part, from already existing collaborations between the participating artists and the curators, which developed in smaller group shows and solo exhibitions over the last few years. Functioning not as a theme but an umbrella term, Modesty gives space to diverse artistic practices that nevertheless connect with each other on various levels in a way that sometimes reveals unexpected similarities.
Joze Barsi, Attila Csörgo, Tacita Dean, Jimmie Durham & Maria Thereza Alves, Leif Elggren, Vadim Fiskin, Ceal Floyer, Alexander Gutke, CM von Hausswolff, Rivane Neuenschwander, Goran Petercol, Werner Reiterer, John Wood & Paul Harrison
Curated by LÃvia Páldi and Gregor Podnar
Opening reception at 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, 25 March, at both sites Modesty is an exhibition and publication project that derives, in part, from already existing collaborations between the participating artists and the curators, which developed in smaller group shows and solo exhibitions over the last few years. Functioning not as a theme but an umbrella term, Modesty gives space to diverse artistic practices that nevertheless connect with each other on various levels in a way that sometimes reveals unexpected similarities. By tracing the appearance of modesty - as decency, unpretentiousness and quietness, but also as understatement - the show inquires into the current position of the (art) object, in its formal, stylistic, social and institutional aspects, within the selected practices.
These artists do not abandon the 'classical' concept of the artwork; on the contrary, they very much operate with this notion, with either slight or significant modifications. None of them is confined to a specific medium: their work ranges from the production of incorporeal and thoroughly mirage-like optical effects to the employment or creation of technical devices.
Art in the 90s was focused more on the social context and participatory practices of art, its interactive and instrumental potential for grasping the 'real.' A wider engagement with different social strata and the prevailing conditions of the cultural industry have again raised the issue of the materialization of the artwork and led to a re-contextualization of aesthetics. Modesty operates within these parameters as it presents work of a transient character dealing with various models of perception, the transcription of everyday phenomena into formal (visual) language, various self-referential aspects and, last but not least, poetic intimations. Modesty makes room for the personal, as well as for a more imagistic and, in many cases, quite playful engagement with form.
The show, which includes drawings, sound installations, video, painting, sculpture and photographic works, seeks to develop and transform itself with each new presentation.
The current exhibition, which presents selected works by 14 artists at Galerija ¦kuc and Mala galerija, is the second manifestation of Modesty, which was first mounted at Pavel House in Laafeld, Austria, as part of steirischer herbst 2002. A related publication, with contributions by the artists and invited international writers, is scheduled to be released for the showx{2019}s next presentation, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb at the beginning of 2004.
Image: Leif Elggren, As if I was my father, 2002, still from dvd, 10 min
Modesty is a Galerija ¦kuc project in collaboration with: Moderna galerija Ljubljana, Pavel-House Laafeld/Potrna, Muzej suvreme umjetnosti Zagreb
Supported by: Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia, Cultural Department of the City of Ljubljana, IASPIS - Stockholm, Cultural Department of the Austrian Embassy in Ljubljana
For further information please contact Ms. Alenka Gregorix{010D}, program coordinator, phone/fax: +386 1 421 31 40, or via email
Special thanks
We would like to thank the artists.
Zdenka Badovinac, Sofia Bertilsson, Dr. Maximilian Eichinger, Galerie Nordenhake - Berlin, Galeria Fortes Vilaça - São Paulo, Galerie Eugen Lendl - Graz, Galerija Kapelica - Ljubljana, Jurij Krpan, Eugen Lendl, Christoph Loidl, Margarethe Makovec, Michael Petrowitsch, Snjezana Pintaric.
Galerija Skuc
Stari trg 21, 1000 - Ljubljana
tel +386 1 4213140
fax +386 1 4213140
Locations:
Galerija ¦kuc, Stari trg 21 / Mala galerija, Slovenska 35 - Ljubljana