Symposium THE REINVENTION OF THE BALKANS

[anna balint]

From: "Kunsthalle Fridericianum" 
<petresin at fridericianum-kassel.de>


THE REINVENTION OF THE BALKANS:
GEOPOLITICS, ART AND CULTURE IN SOUTH-EAST 
EUROPE

Symposium, October 25 - 26, 2003

The geographical area called the "Balkan" 
which comprises many different
linguistic as well as religious and 
cultural ethnical groups, states and
state like formations in South-East 
Europe, is the discoursive product of a
century old struggle for political 
influence and power and the acrimonious
conflicts of World religions and 
ideologies.

Discourses are functioning as double 
agents, they are structuring the
thinking process and the Subconscious. 
Cultural appreciations are outlasting
generations and the particular political 
systems, they are generating moral
concepts and beliefs. The "Balkan" is 
primarily a western invention full of
prejudices, resentments, political and 
cultural projections. Since a while
many female and male authors from the 
Balkan region are opposing this
western "Balkan"-Image with their own 
personal political and cultural
definitions.

The Symposium "The Reinvention of the 
Balkans" is trying to challenge this
western view in a most critical way and to 
deconstruct the
 "Balkan"-representations. By naming the 
western motives and interests and
releasing the "Balkan"-Images  from 
resentment and romanticism, the manifold
political and cultural relations between 
West- and South-East Europe can be
redefined. It is about time for a new 
discourse between equal dialog
partners.

Participants a.o.: Marina Abramovic, Sokol 
Beqiri, Markus Bickel, Boris
Buden, Calin Dan, Melih Fereli, Sanja 
Ivekovic, Hito Steyerl, Vesna Kesic,
Marina Grzinic, Zelimir Zilnik.

Conception: Marius Babias, Bojana Pejic
In cooperation with ifa, Institut für 
Auslandsbeziehungen, Stuttgart.

IN THE GORGES OF THE BALKANS. A REPORT.
August 30 - November 23, 2003

Presented by the Kunsthalle Fridericianum, 
the exhibition entitled IN THE
GORGES OF THE BALKANS is showcasing one of 
Europe's rapidly burgeoning art
and culture scenes: Featured are 88 
artists from 12 different countries and
regions (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosova,
Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, 
Slovenia, Turkey), which together
define the term "The Balkans". A 
comprehensive programme of events
reflecting the current situation in the 
countries of south-eastern Europe
also accompanies the exhibition.

Funded by Kulturstiftung des Bundes.

KUNSTHALLE FRIDERICIANUM
Friedrichsplatz 18
34117 Kassel
Telefon +49 (0)561.7 07 27 20
Fax +49 (0)561. 77 45 78
office at fridericianum-kassel.de
www.fridericianum-kassel.de


Natasa Petresin
Curator
Kunsthalle Fridericianum
Friedrichsplatz 18
34117 Kassel
Germany
tel. +49 561 7072767
fax. +49 561 774578
e. np at fridericianum-kassel.de