Goethe-Institut Minsk,«pARTisan» media-project

April, 22 — May, 10
Ў Gallery of Contemporary Art

 MINSK. NON-CONFORMISM OF THE 1980S

Project-document exhibition

Curator: Artur Klinaŭ
Co-curators: Tania Arcimovič, Alaksiej Barysionak

From the archives of Volha Archipava, Adam Hlobus, Huzel Zalajeva, Artur Klinaŭ, Juryj Ihruša, Sergey Kiryuschenko, Ihar Korzun, Lija Kisialova, Uladzimir Parfianok, Viktar Piatroŭ, Andrej Plasanaŭ, Dzmitry Strocaŭ, Sursky’s family, Alaksandr Uhlanica, Hackievič’s family, Vital Čarnabrysaŭ, Dzmitry Jarmilaŭ.

The phenomenon of Belarusian avant-garde has been recently prominent within the (non)official cultural discourse of Belarus. Personal, as well as collective exhibitions of the artists of the 1980s have been repeatedly held, including those with the works ofAdam Hlobus, Alaksiej Ždanaŭ (Alexey Zhdanov), Valera Piesin, Ludmila Rusava, Vital Čarnabrysaŭ (Vitaly Chernobrisov), Hienadź Chackievič among others. Several years ago the album Belarusian Avant-garde of the 1980s was published in pARTisan Collection, which until now remains the only documentation of thisperiod available.

What was the period of the 80s like? Who were its key figures and how did those artists survive and work despite the circumstances? Who did they find support in and who did they address their manifestos to? How was art understood and why was it art that became a space for free person’s expression? Finally, why ‘avant-garde’ and why (so far) in underground? Complete answers arestill to be given to these and many other questions — this period, while being unique for the Belarusian culture, has not been documented or researched until now, and its archive remains in the form of scattered artifacts stored in artists’ apartments.

Document-exhibition Minsk. Non-conformism of the 1980s is one more address to this phenomenon through the display, non-conventionally, not of the artists’ works, but ofthose very artefacts, documents and stories, which can conveythe atmosphere of those times. However, Minsk. Non-conformism of the 1980s is not a memories display or a nostalgic recollection. Crucially, the exhibitionaddresses a younger generation, which is not aware or can only partially imagine that period in the past, yet the events that occurred then are directly or indirectly connected to the contemporary art processes in Belarus. Within that period of time which turned out to be remarkable and revolutionary, one can and must search for the clues to numerous questions which arise today in attempts to understand today’s space, and subject’s place within it.

«We used to read about freedom in books, but we lived under domination. And we were sad because we were deprived of the basic human right to be ourselves. According to A. Platonaŭ,‘people couldlive, but they are not allowed to’. For years we had been longing for, we had been waiting, dreamingof freedom, and thus we were obviously not liked by those who found it more free to live without freedom. Life seemed to be passing in dreams and complaints, making works recognized only by few friends. And finally, it becamealmost possible to live our lives… At the official exhibitions we can see our yesterdays, at the ones like this – our present day, as well as our near and distant future. We cannot but be happy about it! Of course, we are also happy for our artists for finally having been given a chance. We are happy for ourselves, too: who knows maybe minorities will be allowed to breathe deeplyat last and not as if they take something from the majority and somehow greatly disturb them. I welcome the exhibition and its participants, thank you for the joy and hope. L. Čarnyšova»

From the book of reviews to the exhibition «In Kalektarnaja», September, 1987

The exhibition Minsk. Non-conformism of the 1980s presents a specific response to the exhibition Brilliant Amateurs dedicated to avant-garde subculture of the 1980s in Germany that is to open to public on April, 23 at the Center for Contemporary Arts in Minsk.

Presentations and film screenings will accompany the exhibition. Please, follow the announcements. The partner of the project KALEKTAR and BelFilm Group.

Design of the poster Sergey Shabohin.