WHAT IS SOCIAL? Activity of the Ujazdowski Castle in Public Space

WHAT IS SOCIAL?
Activity of the Ujazdowski Castle in Public Space (1988–2014)
Paweł Althamer, Lene Berg, Black Market International, Christian Boltanski,
Maurizio Cattelan, Peter Downsbrough, Christian Jankowski, Jenny Holzer,
Heidrun Holzfeind, Jerzy Kalina, Martin Kaltwasser/Folke Köbberling,
Tadashi Kawamata, Grzegorz Klaman,
Andree Korpys/Markus Löffler/Marcus Kaiser,
Barbara Kruger, Katharina Marszewski, David Mach, Teresa Murak,
Jarosław Perszko, Cai Ulrich von Platen/Jan Håfström, Leszek Przyjemski,
Joanna Rajkowska, James Turrell, Lawrence Weiner, Krzysztof Wodiczko,
as well Maria Parczewska and Janusz Byszewski (LCE)
Opening of the exhibition: 13 May 2015, 6.00 p.m.
On view through: 27 September 2015
Curator: Grzegorz Borkowski
Exhibition design: Marcin Kwietowicz
Co-operation: Iga Fijałkowska, Katarzyna Lipińska
Image Editing of the Documentary Materials: Piotr Woźniakiewicz
The artificial palm tree on the Charles de Gaulle Roundabout demonstrated the potential of artistic activities in
public space, even to those who are not interested in contemporary art. Initially, it was a temporary artistic
intervention that aroused surprise and controversy, and in the past few years, it has become a widely recognized
object and a popular symbol of Warsaw. Its interpretations and assessments no longer solely depend on the
statements of specialists in the field of art, but rather on the emotions, opinions, and attitudes of the people who
see it. It became a social phenomenon because it managed to take root in the public’s imagination.
The project of Joanna Rajkowska, Greetings from Jerusalem Avenue, was seen by a different kind of audience - people
who do not necessarily visit exhibitions, but still feel entitled to commenting on and evaluating the kind of art they
come across in their everyday experience. They do not form a social group, but rather, consist of changing groups that
are utilizing urban spaces. Art in public space is able to prompt the individuals creating these moving communities to
communicate - not necessarily about art, but rather on things that became apparent because of art, things they attributed
to it, which someone suggested them. Are social phenomena formed in this way, or rather individual experiences?
Which is more significant for the arts? What is individual and what is social, since no one functions in isolation? To say
that everything is social is like saying nothing at all. Greetings from Jerusalem Avenue, by Joanna Rajkowska, is one of
the many projects implemented by the CCA Ujazdowski Castle in public space, which the exhibition What is Social?
presents. We propose to ask the question in the title to each of the nearly thirty selected projects.
In the entire history – spanning over 25 years – of the CCA Ujazdowski Castle, implementations and actions in public
spaces have constituted an important element of the institution’s program, and were often carried out beyond the
castle’s walls. These projects were extremely diverse, often pioneering, and mainly so because they included
interventions in urban spaces with such outstanding artists like Jenny Holzer, Barbara Kruger, Krzysztof Wodiczko, and
Joanna Rajkowska, but also cultural animation activities with local communities, exhibition projects around the Castle,
as well as many projects in other facilities and cultural institutions.
For all, this will be an opportunity for a unique kind of time travel, and for many, an opportunity to remember the
events in which they partook. The exhibition will show materials from the rich collections of the CCA Ujazdowski
Castle as well as its International Collection of Contemporary Art. The exhibition is an introduction to the recapitulation
of the experience of art in public spaces in Poland, as well as a basis for the critical self-reflection of the institution and
deliberation over new strategies for public art in the twenty-first century.
The CCA Ujazdowski Castle would also like to extend its gratitude to all the people and institutions that have supported
the implementation of these projects.
The exhibition presents works and documentation from the following collections: The International Collection of
Contemporary Art at the Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Department of Scientific Information and
Documentation of the Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Laboratory of Creative Education, A-I-R
Laboratory, CCA TV, the Archives of the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw and the Archives of the Labyrinth Gallery
in Lublin.
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Program accompanying the exhibition WHAT IS SOCIAL?
The Activity of the Ujazdowski Castle in Public Space (1988–2014)
Curatorial tour with Grzegorz Borkowski
May 23, 2015, 3.00 p.m.
June 10, 2015, 12.00 p.m., Senior's Day
June 11, 2015, 5.00 p.m.
September 24, 2015, 5.00 p.m.
Active guided tour with Iga Fijałkowska
July 16, 2015, 5.00 p.m.
September 13, 2015, 5.00 p.m.
Educational Activities for Organized Groups
Primary School
A Walk Through Art
Can art only be found in museums and galleries? Most certainly not! Artists often have unique ideas on how to turn an
ordinary walk into an adventure with art. You just have to keep your eyes wide open, because art can be hiding just
around the corner. During the workshop, children will have the opportunity to learn about the different activities of
artists in the city. Part of the workshop will be dedicated to allowing the children to create a work of their own, which
could be found in public space.
Middle and High School
Urban Stories
What stories does a city tell? What is public space? What are the characteristics of the art implemented in it? During the
workshop, students will learn the answers to these and many other questions. They will watch the various interventions
of artists in urban space, discuss many well-known projects, reflect on their message, to go on and develop their own
urban projects.
What is social?
The social phenomenon that is the artificial palm tree on Charles de Gaulle Roundabout in Warsaw in the frame of a
project by Joanna Rajkowska "Greetings from Jerusalem Avenue", will become a starting point for discussions
concerning social issues related to public space. How does existing art in the city influence the individual and the
community? Does raising discussions about social problems and reaching out to a wide group of recipients engage
viewers in a dialogue? During the workshop, students will reflect on the social function of art in public space.
Partner of the exhibition: Clear Channel Poland
Media patrons of the exhibition: Fundacja Bęc Zmiana, Notes.Na.6.Tygodni
CCA media patronage: Gazeta Wyborcza, Wyborcza.pl Warszawa, Gazeta Co Jest Grane, TOK FM, ELLE, Elle
Decoration, Esquire Polska, Aktivist, artinfo.pl, Stolica
CCA Ujazdowski Castle participates in the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage programme KULTURA
DOSTĘPNA
Press release and photographies are accessible under the address:
ftp://cswd.home.net.pl | usename: media | password: press | catalogue: media | file: CO_JEST_SPOLECZNE
Information:
Zofia Chojnacka, CCA Press Office
Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle
Jazdów 2 Street, 00-467 Warsaw
mobile +48 510 160 637, tel./fax +48 22 625 05 22
e-mail: [email protected]
www.csw.art.pl | Facebook | Vimeo/cswtv | Twitter | Instagram
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