FESTIVAL OF NEW VISUAL TENDENCIES//„While Rome is Burning“

From December 20th to 22nd – Debate room on the 1st floor
Curator: Jovana Stokić
Free entrance!

Festival of New visual tendencies each year chooses video works which improve in various ways modern visual expression in all disciplines - from film, video art and all the way to commercials and TV graphics. Although it is open for broad audience, the festival is initially dedicated to professionals. The festival works in the way that selector chooses topic and works which will be presented. This is the third time festival is held.

 

PROGRAM:

Saturday, December 20th – Debate room on the 1st floor

5 PM
Paolo Canevari, Burning Coliseum, 2006, 4 min
Ant Farm,The Eternal Frame, 1976, 24:15
Paul Chan, Baghdad in No Particular Order 2003, 51min


7 PM
Omer Fast, Looking Pretty for God, 2008, 27min
Martha Rosler, The East is Red and the West is Bending, 1977, 20min
Jenny Perlin, View from Elsewhere, 2002, 22min


9 PM
Linda Benglis, Now, 1973, 10min
Coco Fusco, Operations Atropos, 2006, 59min


Sunday, December 21st - Debate room on the 1st floor

5 PM
Sanja Ždrnja, Spirit of the Moment, 2008, 3min
Eleanor Antin, The Adventures of a Nurse (Parts I and II), 1976, 65 min


7 PM
Jenny Perlin,
1. Review, 2004, 3min
2. Possible Models, 2004, 10:45
3. Amend, 2005, 5 min
Ryan Trecartin, A Family Finds Entertainment, 2004, 42 min
Sophie Calle, Unfinished, 2005, 30:14


9 PM
Paolo Canevari, Bouncing Scull, 2007, 10min
Ursula Biemann, Performing the Border, 1999, 42min
Jenny Perlin, 6 animated films, 2001-2004

Monday, December 22nd - Debate room on the 1st floor

5 PM
Martha Rosler, Vital Statistics of a Citizen, Simply Obtained, 1977, 39:12

Miranda July, Videoworks: Volume 1 (57:06)
1.Atlanta, 1996, 10min
2.The Amateurist, 1998, 14 min
3.Nest of Tens, 1997, 26:36
4.Getting Stronger Every Day, 2001, 6:30

7 PM
Jenny Perlin, Perseverence & How to Develop It, 2003, 14 min
Katarzina Kozyra, Performances

9 PM
Hannah Wilke, Hannah Wilke Through the Large Glass, 1976, 10 min
Jelena Tomasevic, Just Kidding, 2008, 9min
VALIE EXPORT, Touch Cinema, 1968, 1:08 min

Ana Prvacki:
1. TENT, QUARTET, BOWS AND ELBOWS, 2007, 4min
2. THE LEAP OF FAITH, 2006, 3:30min
3. THE WILD GOOSE STEP (AND THEN SHE SAID) 2007, 1:45min
4. AT THE TIPS OF YOUR FINGERTIPS (TOWARDS A CLEAN MONEY CULTURE) 2007, 1:38min
5. PAPAIN IS IN, 2006, 2min
6. BLUSHING FOR CIRCULATION, 2008, 3:20min
7.DIY CHIVALRY, 2008, endless loop (5min)

Joan Jonas, I Want to Live in the Country, 1974, 25min

Sonic environment:

Amuse-Gueule

1. That's all behind us now
2. Le dernier pastis
3. I always speah the truth
4. Mixed load...



While Rome is Burning
(Exhibition in Time)

It is certain that every generation claims its era to be historic. As a political subject who lived through Serbian 1990s, as well as the years of Bush administration, I am aware of enormous changes in the current global picture. I do not accept cheap equation of the United States with the Roman Empire, but so much distrust in free market democracy is asking for reinterpretation of the Post-Berlin Wall World. It is ironic to hear now days that capitalism is the only way to go: whose and exactly what kind of capitalism? At the same time, the enormous amount of hope in possibility of change came with this phenomenal man who will become American president on January 20th 2009. So, while Rome is burning, it is certain that the fire will be extinguished. But what about art? How will the city (world) look like after the fire?
Three conceptual platforms are operative in this selection: US video art production, feminist video art, and performance art in video. There is no section dedicated exclusively to historic video production of the 1970s, since these videos are combined with contemporary works. This gesture has a goal to prove how sense of history is important not only in relation to the media, but also more broadly. The video by legendary Ant Farm “The Eternal Flame: of 1976 is a paradigmatic example: It shoots strait in the heard of American modern myth-making by recreating Kennedy's assassination in Dallas – a trauma that keeps repeating itself in American psyche.

“Rational” Illusions from the last row of the movie theatre
I particularly like what Brazilian conceptual artist Cildo Meireles has said about his position within the artworld. He likes not to be in the center. He prefers “sitting in the last row of the movie theatre” where he can see the audience in front of him watching the film. It would be wonderful is we could turn this position of “the last row of the movie theatre” into our advantage. Our place thus becomes a privileged position where we can critically observe those in front, while they are oblivious to us, we are also enjpying the show. These are the possibilities that selected videos offer: while Rome is burning, let us enjoy in the representation and also let us think about the renewal! While Rome is burning, we are hoping that the change is possible, and that we will be capable to make changes – by soothing presence of Eros of Art, at least. Slavoj Zizek has recently formulated the enormous potential of illusions and hope in our political existence: “Nothing was decided with Obama's victory, but it widens our freedom and thereby the scope of our decisions. No matter what happens, it will remain a sign of hope in our otherwise dark times, a sign that the last word does not belong to realistic cynics, from the left or the right.” (Slavoj Zizek, “Use Your Illusions,” London Review of Books, 14. nobembar 2008.)
This exhibition in time is dedicated to these “rationalist” illusions.

Belgrade-born, New York-based Jovana Stokic is art historian and curator.



Special thanks to:
Boban Jevtic, Miroslav Karic, Ana Cosic, Jakov Ponjavic,
Paolo Canevari, Jelena Tomasevic, Sanja Zdrnja, Ana Prvacki, Katarzyna Kozyra, Omer Fast, Postmasters Gallery, New York, Jenny Perlin, Annet Gelink Gallery Amsterdam, Mireille Mosler, Ltd. New York, and Galerie M+R Fricke, BerlinLindsay Bosch, (Video Data Bank), Ann Adachi, (Electronic Arts Intermix), Kristen Fitzpatrick, (Women Making Movies).

PHOTO CREDITS:
Ant Farm - Eternal Flame
photo credit: VIDEO DATA BANK

Paul Chan - Baghdad In No Particular Order
photo credit: VIDEO DATA BANK

Coco Fusco - Operation Atropos
photo credit: VIDEO DATA BANK

Linda Benglis - Now
photo credit: VIDEO DATA BANK

Paolo Canevari - Bouncing Scull
photo credit: Artist

Martha Rosler - Vital Statistics of a Citizen
photo credit: VIDEO DATA BANK

Ana Prvački - The WIld Goose Step (and then she said)
photo credit: Artist

Jelena Tomašević - Just Kidding
photo credit: Artist