[spectre] Fwd: GOOD LIFE: the 53rd October Salon in Belgrade

[Andreas Broeckmann]

The Cultural Centre of Belgrade

53rd October Salon

GOOD LIFE
Physical narratives and spatial imaginations
The 53rd October Salon
September 22–November 4, 2012

Press preview: Friday, September 21, noon
Opening:  Saturday, September 22, 1pm

The former building of the Geodetic Institute
Karađorđeva 48, Belgrade
Organizer: The Cultural Centre of Belgrade

http://www.oktobarskisalon.org


Participants: Vladimir Arsenijević, Mladen Bizumić, Biljana Đurđević,
Mirjana Đurđević, Expodium - Bart Witte & Nikos Doulos, Annika von
Hausswolff, Vlatka Horvat, Ana Hušman, Villu Jaanisoo, Aleksandar
Jestrović Jamesdin, Anssi Kasitonni, Karsten Konrad, Jukka Korkeila,
Wolfgang Krause & Silvia Lorenz, Ana Krstić, Svebor Midžić, China
Mieville, Vladimir Miladinović, Nebojša Milikić, Ahmet Ogut, Slobodan D. 
Pešić and Vladan Caričić, Saša Rakezić – Zograf, Dubravka
Sekulić, Branislava Stefanović, Mladen Stilinović, Branimir Stojanović / 
Slobodan Šijan / Milica Tomić, Dubravka Stojanović, Samuil Stoyanov,
Annika Strom, Pilvi Takala, Berit Talpsepp, Raša Todosijević, Miloš
Tomić, Sreten Ugričić, XYZ - Matei Gavula & Milan Tittel, Marko Živković

Curated by Branislav Dimitrijević & Mika Hannula

This year's October Salon will be located at the building of the former
Geodetic Institute, built in 1905–1907 as the Belgrade Shareholders'
Association, one of the most beautiful but also one of the most
neglected monumental edifices in Belgrade. This inspirational location
will be used as a space of ad hoc transformation, where the works will 
be "implanted" in its present condition and in its existing historical
narrative and architectural design.

The exhibition GOOD LIFE / ГУД ЛАЈФ – Physical narratives and spatial
imaginations confronts the changes and challenges of the past 20 years, 
and running, of course. It is a collection of site-specific works that
faces the dilemmas of our contemporary lives, the mess we are in, and
the hopes we try to hold on to or to re-generate.

And yes, Belgrade is where it is at. This is where it begins, and this
is where it returns—while using this particular building, the city, as a 
trampoline, as a catapult. It is localized and particular, but not empty 
or closed up, actively connecting the dots between here and there, then 
and now.

The artworks provide a situated and motivated visual and conceptual
commentary on its physical, perceptual and narrative properties
vis-à-vis the context of the current social, political and economic
crisis. It is a crisis that we are confronted with in all parts of the
world, and through all areas of our everyday experiences. It is not only 
a crisis in the political, economic and social spheres, but also a
crisis of social imagination. It is a crisis of confidence, of where and 
how to address the issues of social hope and a good, good life. Not as a 
cynical enterprise, but as a way of feeling for the other, in the sense 
of both laughing at and with someone.

The intention of this exhibition is to seek modes of translation and
transformation of space (both physical and social), as pre-given and
static, into place as provisional and transitional. The openness of this 
exchange allows circumventing a mere spectacularization,
instrumentalization or commodification of the artworks, but also the
one-dimensionality of a social (or political) objective, consensus, or
destination of an artistic act defined and decided on in advance.

This year's October Salon is the result of the collaboration between two 
curators known for their previous joint projects (such as the exhibition 
Situated Self – Confused, Compassionate, Conflictual, in Belgrade and 
Helsinki in 2005). Joining them for the production of a book on the 
exhibition are Svebor Midžić, editor, and Andrej Dolinka, visuals.


Branislav Dimitrijević is a curator, writer and lecturer in art
history and visual culture based in Belgrade.
Mika Hannula is a professor, writer, curator and critic, born in
Finland, based in Berlin.

For more information, please contact Ana Đokić, PR & Marketing Manager:
ana.djokic at kcb.org.rs

The founder and patron of the October Salon is the City of Belgrade.
Supported by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Serbia.
Municipality Old Town Belgrade, FRAME Foundation, Mondrian Foundation,
SAHA Association, Swedish Embassy in Belgrade, Embassy of Finland,
Heartefact Fund.