Romualdas Požerskis, 1989-02-10 Restoration of Freedom monument.
The 11th Kaunas Biennial ‘There And Not There’ will open on 15 September 2017 and will question the notion of monument: what, when and why should a monument be or not be. While opposing the populist practice of removing-erecting and conservative traditionalism, prevalent in the memory discourse of public art in Lithuania, the Biennial will stimulate and legitimise new, contemporary, conceptual, and relevant ideas and strategies of remembrance. The exhibition will take place in public spaces of the city. The 11th Biennial curator and artist Paulina Pukytė has invited artists from Lithuania, Germany, Slovenia, Great Britain, Japan, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Poland to make site-specific installations for Kaunas. The Kaunas Picture gallery will host three supporting exhibitions. Coming Or Going (curator Laima Kreivytė) will show how Lithuanian artists have engaged with existing, former and potential monuments in the past two decades in Lithuania. What Are Monuments Made Of (curator Udi Edelman) will present a collection of videos by international artists dealing with monuments. The Biennial is also very happy to show, for the first time in Lithuania, a project by Sophie Calle, the world renowned and one of the most important conceptual artists of today. On 16 and 17 September open talks and discussions on monuments and commemoration will take place, with celebrated guest speakers such as James E. Young, Jochen Gerz, Horst Hoheisel, and others (curator of the Oral Programme Dr. Rasa Antanavičiūtė).
Participating artists of THERE AND NOT THERE: Adina, Manca Bajec, Karolina Freino, Allard van Hoorn, Jenny Kagan, Horst Hoheisel & Andreas Knitz, Jonas Oškinis & Raimundas Krukonis, Juozas Laivys, Dainius Liškevičius, Anton Lukoszevieze, Philip Miller, Tatzu Nishi, Paulina Pukytė, Juozas Zikaras. Special guest: Sophie Calle
Visitor information:
11th Kaunas Biennial dates: 15 September – 30 November 2017
Preview for professionals: 15 September 2017.
Opening of the 11th Kaunas Biennial THERE AND NOT THERE: 15 September 2017, 6:00 pm / Vienybės aikštė, Kaunas (Vienybės Square, Kaunas).
Preview of COMING OR GOING and WHAT ARE MONUMENTS MADE OF: 16 September 2017, 6:00 pm / Kaunas Picture Gallery / Donelaičio St. 16, Kaunas LT 44213
Oral Programme: CONTESTED MEMORY – CONTESTED SPACES / 16-17 September 2017 / Multifunctional Study and Science Centre, Vytautas Magnus University (Putvinskio St. 23, Kaunas). Speakers: Prof. James E. Young, Dr. Horst Hoheisel & Andreas Knitz, Jochen Gerz, Dr. Matthew Rampley, Manca Bajec, Dr. Rasa Antanavičiūtė, Dr. Giedrė Jankevičiūtė, Dr. Giedrė Mickūnaitė, and others.
Locations of the 11th Kaunas Biennial:
Exhibition THERE AND NOT THERE is in various public spaces with free access; map of the exhibition will be available at the HQ and to download from the App Store. Opening hours: some of the artworks have individual opening times. Please check the guide.
Guided Tours: registration available from 1 September 2017 online: www.biennial.lt [1], by e-mail: Neringa Stoškutė neringa@biennial.lt [2] or in person at the HQ.
11th Kaunas Biennial HQ: Kaunas Picture Gallery / Donelaičio St. 16, Kaunas LT 44213.
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am – 7 pm
Exhibitions at Kaunas Picture Gallery:
Sophie Calle, DETACHMENT. In partnership with the Ringier Collection (Switzerland).
COMING OR GOING (curator Laima Kreivytė). Artists will be announced later.
WHAT ARE MONUMENTS MADE OF. International video programme (curator Udi Edelman, Israel). Artists: Yochai Avrahami, Mark Clare, Ruben Woodin Dechamps and Oscar Hudson, Effi and Amir, Karolina Freino, Plattform Geschichtspolitik (Eduard Freudmann, Chris Gangl, Tatiana Kai-Browne), Christian Jankowski, Uri Katzenstein, Tali Keren and Alex Stranda, Kristina Norman, Kamila Szejnoch, Julia Turbahn and Tal Alperstein, Artur Żmijewski, and others.
Arrival Airports: Kaunas (KUN) and Vilnius (VNO). Vilnius is a 100 km away from Kaunas; the two cities are connected by trains and buses.
Contact for information: Ana Čižauskienė (project manager), ana@biennial.lt [3]
Main sponsors: Lithuanian Council for Culture, Kaunas Municipality
Media partners: LRT, 15 min, Kauno Diena