The invitation of the art director of MAX ART FEST
MAX ART FEST 2009. MANIFEST ZABORAVA
The first MaxArtFest2008 received about five thousand visitors within three days and nights. Around thirty authors of all generations have presented their latest works of art in various techniques, commenting on the subject "Revolution on hold".
The underground garage Kvatrić has been inaugurated as one of most interesting exhibition areas in Zagreb, but we have also exhibited and worked in underpasses, abandoned local community premises, on the square, in front of the stadium, even in a tramcar.
Our new gathering is the beginning of October 2009, on the spot of our art ritual, in the underground garage Kvatrić. MaxArtFest is a platform of live art, never an area of retrospective or presentation. We consider our working area to be an amplifier of our own actions, a refuge of the artist.
Therefore MaxArtFest 2009 insists on art works that arise as dynamic projects and artistic comments and provocations. In any technique. This year we turn to young artists and students. We invite you to invent and present your projects in communication with our art production.
TWO BEGINNINGS: THE MANIFEST OF OBLIVION
We are dynamically marked by two beginnings, two centuries.
In the beginning of the 20th century, still considered as our own, the artists have articulated a new energy, dynamism, mass attendance. The manifests were the primary means of appearances, the resolute programmes that have determined art work directions. The directness of art movements was more than once expanded onto the energies of ideologies and wars.
The manifests have slowly become a part of art history, memories of an era of resolution.
The beginning of the 21st century in which we live for almost ten years is not providing a new uplift, but is somehow concluding the fast ride in which we have lived up to now. The energy of renouncement (backtrack, withdrawal), silence upon all failures and a search for new beginnings, inside ourselves. Art is no longer launching nor blending with new mass movements. All the roles are taken by those who have their eyes shut.
How to struggle through a web of memories, dead dreams, abandoned hopes, buried young men, silenced ideologies...
We're living in both centuries simultaneously, in both beginnings and both energies.
In the driving energy and the energy of withdrawal. MANIFEST OF OBLIVION.
Leo Katunarić, artistic director
The explanation of the concept and the author selection
EDUARDO SARABIA
What does the world famous star of contemporary art, Eduardo Sarabia, wish to say with his video about a "drug dealer" who prays to his heavenly guardian? The mere fact that the wealthy artist has been shooting at original, dangerous locations in Mexico is enough to reexamine the accepted opinion on the position of successful artists.
CAM HOANG DUONG
Vietnam is a beautiful country that still has the one-party political system, but with a capitalist economy (somewhat similar to Croatia). You expect a load of contemporary artists who comment the actual political moment, but you receive the beautiful poetics of Cam Hoang Duong, which comprises the comment on everything.
KYOKO EBATA
The young female artist Kyoko Ebata, who is receiving more and more attention in Europe, has been fascinated by the moment when people exit rooms or the premises of their stay. By observing her works of art we still feel the warmth of beds that have not yet been made, we sense that life is somewhere else but that the moment of that emptiness in the room is not less significant.
TAKAYUKI YAMAMOTO
Working with children is the basis of the work process of Takayuki Yamamoto. In European standards, it would be bizarre to let five-year-olds to take photos of convicted murderers and rapists. In Japan, it is just a part of the process of life.
YU KUWABARA
Yu Kuwabara is the embodiment of the global trend of artists who, under pressure of life becoming an entertainment show, manage to combine that what seems incompatible. Yu is the composer of classical music who received her education at a conservatorium of music. At the same time, she is also a successful model. All of this could only lead to musical compositions that mix European and Asian music styles. After half an hour of dedicated listening to the chanting of twenty Buddhist priests, I asked what the subject of their songs was, about which Buddhist principle they were singing. She answered that they were singing about sake for the past half hour.
AFTER VENICE - MATKO VEKIĆ, NIKOLA KOYDL, ZOLTAN NOVAK
Three Croatian artists belonging to different generations and different handwritings meet in Venice. What energy breaks forth from blending their work in the lagoon of oblivion? Is Venice only a fancy shop window of global trendsetters or is there still some artistic sense in all that? After Venice, in the underground garage of Eugen Kvaternik.
BRUCE LEE
"The bronze statue of Bruce Lee, first of its kind in the world, has been put up in the split Mostar on November 26, 2005. The world's largest media companies, that have recognized the irony and the positive approach of the entire action, have reported extensively on Bruce Lee in Mostar. Unfortunately, that same night the monument suffered its first damage. On the course of the following two weeks the monument was devastated to that measure that it had to be moved away into a warehouse, where it lies for four years and awaits its renovation and the lighting of the park where it used to be. It has not yet seen the light of day. Scrabbled, damaged and abused monument dedicated to the hero of kung-fu which in the best manner reflects the destiny of its city will be exhibited in Zagreb in a few days. Just like any newcomer, the Herzegovinian Bruce Lee will be exposed to probable outbursts of provincial chauvinism. Apart from the monument, there will also be a long bamboo stick. For a price of five kunas, which will be thrown into a poor box with an inscription "For a recovery and a safe journey home", the visitor will have a unique opportunity to hit Bruce Lee five times with a stick and by doing so to express his/her anger. By channeling and charging the hatred towards others, the funds for the reparation of the monument will be raised, along with its restitution in the park in Mostar, where it should emanate positive energy.
Nino Raspudić
THE BLOCADE OF OBLIVION - STUDENTS
We were exchanging suspicious glances during our first appointments. The blockage that shook our country at a certain moment in time is now merely a memory in some storehouse. At the same time, I'm sitting surrounded by young people full of energy and enthusiasm, people who managed not to proclaim a leader and to preserve an interesting form of democracy. They get help from modern technologies that were perhaps invented to alienate and control people, but they turned them into powerful weapons of momentary communication.
Perhaps the student blockade wasn't tied only to achieving the goal of free education? Maybe it was an expression of assembling and action, those things that in certain periods drive all people? Perhaps that tangible futility of progress that derives out of our every rebellion is only the delightful knowledge of every artistic energy? Are students similar to artists in that manner?
PIGLRIMAGE EUTHANASIA - THE KADELE GROUP
There are more and more cases of meaningless destruction of people through media, structures, and human relations. Artists are those who feel things deeply and who anticipate them. The present situation is completely blocking artists in their work because the 'clutch' machinery is so large that it could step on you in a second without even lifting your head.
Simultaneously, the artists become similar to terminal patients, unfit for work and for life they long for. Suffering permanent pain. The Kadele group has found a solution. It demands the enactment of a law according to which the euthanasia of artists would become legal, those numb patients being a part of this world of suspended cries.
CROATIAN CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS
I can't wait to see what they've come up with this time. Thirty seven of them will in one peculiar place exhibit their paintings, video work, installations, photographies and will do performances and actions. The manifest of oblivion, energy of the glorious days blended with the energy from the dark ages in which we live in. Give us a new hope, some exit from the hopelessness, light our path... Even if only by receiving the lesson that in times like these the settling and acceptance is also a good cause.
FROM THE REGION - STOJANOVIĆ/PUŠKAR - ŽENE U CRNOM (SERBIA), DŽENAN ŠEHIĆ (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA), SPARTAK DULIĆ (SERBIA)
The artists from Bosnia and Serbia were not invited only due to the territorial principle but because they have something interesting to present to us. It would still be unfair not to notice the ever bigger artistic communication in the region. Strangely, we are still behind with politics and trade. Perhaps we're still confused and deeply emotional about all of the things that have happened to us.
LEO KATUNARIĆ
Artistic director
PROGRAM:
Thursday, October 8 at 13 h on Eugen Kvaternik square!
Transfer and reception of the demolished Bruce Lee statue from Mostar, the greatest son of our people and nationalities!
Welcoming speeches by: Dr Nino Raspudić, Veselin Gatalo and Ivan Fijolić
Eugen Kvaternik square in Zagreb
Friday, October 9, 7 h - 19 h
Blockade of oblivion "5 minutes to 12" on the tramcar stations at Kvaternik square, the grand opening 'BLOW THE HORN' ON Kvaternik square, keeping room, public discussions, workshops, film and short lectures, various surprise actions, lecture, workshop of video activism by Oliver Sertić program link
Friday, October 9, 10 h - 13 h
Petra Ladović, Ana-Marija Paček, Sanja Tarandek "NAMELESS", 2009., dyptich (fear from independent art work) - intervention in the garage area
Friday, October 9, 20 h
The grand opening of MaxArtFest in the underground: THE MANIFEST OF OBLIVION
(during the entire festival, the permanent exhibition of MAX ART FEST with video art work, installations, paintings, performances and actions):
Takayuki Yamamoto, Kyoko Ebata (Japan), Cam Hoang Duong (Vietnam), Spartak Dulić (Vojvodina, Serbia), Darije Petković, Mio Vesović, Petar Dabac, Mario Kučera, Ivan Posavec, Ivan Kožarić, Boris Ljubičić, Matko Vekić, Nikola Koydl, Zoltan Novak, Slaven Sumić, Marijan Crtalić, Ivan Fiolić, Nino Raspudić, Veselin Gatalo, Željko Badurina, Predrag Dubravčić (CRO/USA), Sebastijan Dračić, Josip Tirić, Dino Zrnec, Ivica Malčić, Petra Ladović, Božena Končić Badurina, Robert Šimrak, Ksenija Kordić, Fedor Kritovac, Rosana Ratkovčić, Saša Martinović Kunović.
Zagreb Pride: banners - retrospective
Friday, October 9, 21 h
Beat Busters "Beatbusting singer" - performance
Friday, October 9, 21:30 h
Welcome Fažol party by Šime!
Friday, October 9, 22 h
Student surprise - the party of NONoblivion with the screenings and DJ Without Pitch Control! program link
Saturday, October 10, 9 h -18 h
Blockade of oblivion surprise actions on Eugen Kvaternik square, space interventions, workshops of the theatre of oppressed! program link
Saturday, October 10, 9 h -22 h
THE MANIFEST OF OBLIVION
(during the entire festival, the permanent exhibition of MAX ART FEST with video art work, installations, paintings, performances and actions):
Takayuki Yamamoto, Kyoko Ebata (Japan), Cam Hoang Duong (Vietnam), Spartak Dulić (Vojvodina, Serbia), Darije Petković, Mio Vesović, Petar Dabac, Mario Kučera, Ivan Posavec, Ivan Kožarić, Boris Ljubičić, Matko Vekić, Nikola Koydl, Zoltan Novak, Slaven Sumić, Marijan Crtalić, Ivan Fiolić, Nino Raspudić, Veselin Gatalo, Željko Badurina, Predrag Dubravčić (CRO/USA), Sebastijan Dračić, Josip Tirić, Dino Zrnec, Ivica Malčić, Petra Ladović, Božena Končić Badurina, Robert Šimrak, Ksenija Kordić, Fedor Kritovac, Rosana Ratkovčić, Saša Martinović Kunović.
Zagreb Pride: banners - retrospective
Saturday, October 10, 10 h - 13 h
Petra Ladović, Ana-Marija Paček, Sanja Tarandek "NAMELESS", 2009., dyptich (fear from independent art work) - intervention in the garage area
Saturday, October 10, 12 h - 18 h
Božidar Katić "THE RED ZONE" - intervention in a public space, the manufacturing of the parking lot on the Keršovani square above Eugen Kvaternik square
Saturday, October 10, 12 h
Boban Stojanović and Adam Puškar - Women in Black (Serbia), "DOCUMENT OF REMEMBRANCE 8-3-7-2" (8372 is the number of victims in Srebrenica according to the Red Cross list) + 2 video art works: "Women of Srebrenica speak": in the production of Women in Black (2008), directed by Milica Tomić and Srebrenica: "Two memories" - video art work from the meetings of Women in Black in Sarajevo and Belgrade, dedicated to the genocide in Srebrenica
Saturday, October 10, 14 h
Božo Glumac, Josip Svetić, Ivan Midžić "THE SAWYERS STILL EXIST" - performance/action - video
Saturday, October 10, 15 h
War Games - action in space
Saturday, October 10, 16 h
Petra Ladović, Ana-Marija Paček, Sanja Tarandek (ALU female students), "NAMELESS" 2009, diptych (fear of independent art work) - interventions in the garage space
Saturday, October 10, 17 h
GROUP KADELE Pilgrimage/Euthanasia (Maksimir stadium, Garage Eugen Kvaternik)
Saturday, October 10, 18 h
The blockade of oblivion lecture program link
Saturday, October 10, 18 h
Dženan Šehić "BOSNIAN LIFE IS AN UNWANTED MANDALA" - the production takes 3 hours, the grand sweeping of sand mandala in 21:00
Saturday, October 10, 20 h
Yu Kuwabara (Japan) "REQUIEM" - musical non-oblivion, "REQUIEM" - video (20 Buddhist priests and two percussionists)
Saturday, October 10, 22 h
Student surprise the party of NONoblivion with screenings and concert! program link
Sunday, October 11, 9 h - 18 h
The blockade of Oblivion surprise actions on Eugen Kvaternik square, space interventions, workshops of the theatre of oppressed! program link
Saturday, October 10, 9 h -22 h
THE MANIFEST OF OBLIVION
(during the entire festival, the permanent exhibition of MAX ART FEST with video art work, installations, paintings, performances and actions):
Takayuki Yamamoto, Kyoko Ebata (Japan), Cam Hoang Duong (Vietnam), Spartak Dulić (Vojvodina, Serbia), Darije Petković, Mio Vesović, Petar Dabac, Mario Kučera, Ivan Posavec, Ivan Kožarić, Boris Ljubičić, Matko Vekić, Nikola Koydl, Zoltan Novak, Slaven Sumić, Marijan Crtalić, Ivan Fiolić, Nino Raspudić, Veselin Gatalo, Željko Badurina, Predrag Dubravčić (CRO/USA), Sebastijan Dračić, Josip Tirić, Dino Zrnec, Ivica Malčić, Petra Ladović, Božena Končić Badurina, Robert Šimrak, Ksenija Kordić, Fedor Kritovac, Rosana Ratkovčić, Saša Martinović Kunović.
Zagreb Pride: banners - retrospective
Sunday, October 11, 14 h - 18 h
Božidar Katić "THE RED ZONE" - intervention in a public space, the manufacturing of the parking lot on the Keršovani square above Eugen Kvaternik square (2nd part)
Sunday, October 11, 15 h
War Games - action in space
Sunday, October 11, 17 h
Eduardo Sarabia (America, Mexico), "LO QUIERO TODO" (I WANT IT ALL)", 2003 video
Sunday, October 11, 18 h
The blockade of Oblivion lecture program link
Sunday, October 11, 20 h
Berlin Transmediale 2009, selection of 8 movies
Joanna Hoffman Secret Life
Herman Asselberghs Altogether
Jörn Staeger Reise zum Wald
Surekha Kumar Line of Control
Elke Groen NightStill
Mark Boswell Unknown Unknown(s)
Memoko Seto Planet A
Etta Säfve Unwavering (Sisyphus)
Sunday, October 11, 21 h
The blockade of Oblivion Final QUIZ! program link
Sunday, October 11, 22 h
The return of Bruce Lee the greatest son of our people and nationalities from Zagreb to Mostar!
Sunday, October 11, 23 h
The grand closure of the festival
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Leo Katunarić
M 0993130205
E info@maxartfest.com
PRODUCTION:
Leo Katunarić i
Tomislav Vuković
M 0959044290
PRESS:
Ivana Percl
M 0997334554
E info@maxartfest.com