Entering EU - artistic positions on crossing borders

[anna balint]

                                   Entering EU

                      artistic positions on crossing borders



    March 7th - March 28th 2004

    Martin Krenn / Oliver Ressler (Vienna)
    Tanja Ostojic (Berlin / Belgrade)
    Marko Raat (Tallinn)
    Gentian Shkurti (Tirana)
    Social Impact (Linz)


       Special guests: Beierle & Keijser 
      (Stichting Paspoort-Donor <http://www.paspoortdonor.tk> )




    In a few weeks the European Union will expand. Dealing with migration
    into the "holy land" EU is one of the biggest social and political
    challenges of our time. The pressure imposed through migration will also
    not be changed after the EU expansion. The Schengen border will still
    remain in its place for a while. And even if the "new" EU states will
    become part of the "Schengen countries," the border problem will only be
    shifted a few hundred kilometres.

    The exhibition presents artists dealing with crossing the border to the
    EU and shows five different approaches to this subject.

    Martin Krenn / Oliver Ressler work documentary-wise or analytically on
    topics like aided escape / border crossing, deportation and illegal
    residence.
    Social Impact offers a kind of service on their web site for people
    willing to migrate. Safe trips for illegal border-crossing from the Czech
    Republic to Austria should help to minimise the death rate of migrants.
    Gentian Shkurti turns this topic into a computer game. As Albanian
    emigrant you can try to reach the Italian coast - but beware of the coast
    patrol!
    Marko Raat went to Denmark without a valid visa and tried to explain the
    baffled border officers that he had to enter the country because he
    wanted to study Danish architecture.
    Tanja Ostojic used various exhibitions as a platform to look for a
    husband with a EU passport. She has been successful with this radical art
    project, which is precisely documented, ranging from announcements for a
    "first date" to marriage and residence in the "new home country."

    A project by < rotor > (Graz, Austria)
    Curators: Anton Lederer and Margarethe Makovec


                          Opening: March 7th, 3.00 p.m.
            Opening by Rob Oostdam, regionleader Dutch Refugee Counsil
       Special guests: Beierle & Keijser (Stichting Paspoort-Donor <http://
                             www.paspoortdonor.tk> )

       Kunstenaarsinitiatief Paraplufabriek, Van Oldenbarneveltstraat 63a,
                                     Nijmegen
                     open: from Thursday to Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
                     www.expoplu.nl <http://www.expoplu.nl/>