Manifesta 10 On Board invites artists, arts professionals and students to an overnight ferry trip from Helsinki to St Petersburg from 7–11 October 2014. It allows for a special insight into the Biennale exhibition, including presentations and conversations with both curators and artists of Manifesta 10, which shed light on the background and process of the Biennale in its critical complexity. It also introduces the St Petersburg art scene in its diversity and encourages further exchange with the contemporary art in the city beyond the official Biennale programme.
The programme offers visitors an insider’s look into the Biennale programme and includes presentations and informal discussions with both Biennale curators and artists. Manifesta 10 curator Kasper König and Manifesta founding director Hedwig Fijen will discuss the Biennale’s creation twenty years ago in response to the changing European constellation, which enabled increased artistic exchange in the region, as well as the goals and challenges of conducting a Biennale in St. Petersburg today.
In the panel discussion entitled How to Engage with a Contested Area Manifesta 10 artists and curators will share their experience creating work for the biennale in St. Petersburg focusing on questions of censorship and self-censorship and the choice to engage in a politically challenging situation. Among the other On Board planned events are panel discussions with international artists and curators examining the Artist as Activist and Censorship from a Global Perspective as well as newly commissioned video programmes, performances, and interactive games. The On Board project is curated by Susan Katz. Video by Swedish artist Anna Johansson and performances by Finnish artists Anna Breu and Tero Nauha are part of Floating Ghost curatorial project by Finnish curator Jussi Koitela.
For further information the programme, booking, etc: http://manifesta10.org/en/education/projects/on-board/
Download the M10 On Board participants info
Manifesta 10 On Board has been produced by Manifesta in collaboration with Frame Visual Art Finland, Centre for Contemporary Arts Estonia, Consulate General of Finland in St. Petersburg and OCA Office for Contemporary Art Norway.
At the same time with Manifesta 10 On Board an interesting symposium is organised in St. Petersburg. What is Monumental Today? symposium is open for anyone interested in the topic and is co-organised by the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts/University of the Arts Helsinki in collaboration with Chto Delat, Smolny Institute and EARN (European Artistic Research Network). Read more about the symposium
Manifesta 10 On Board Program Schedule
October 7
Columbus Night Club
4:00 – 4:30 pm
Welcome drink and sandwiches.
Performance (Floating Ghost of Freedom) by Finnish artist Anna Breu and video by Anna Johansson (in lobby with headsets)
4:30 pm – 4: 50 pm
Introduction to MANIFESTA 10 and Partner Organizations: Discussion of Evening Events and Project Goals. Short presentations by On Board partners (Frame Visual Art Finland, OCA, and CCA, Estonia)
4:50 pm – 5:20 pm
Introductory Remarks by MANIFESTA 10 curator Kasper Konig and MANIFESTA Founding Director Hedwig Fijen
5:20 pm – 5:50 pm
Keynote Address: The Arts in Russia Today: How the socio-political situation is impacting artists in all disciplines. What does censorship mean today in Russia. Madina Tlostanova (Russia)
From 6pm to 9pm
Panel discussions, seminars, video screenings and performances will take place concurrently in four different spaces.
Auditorium 1
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Panel Discussion: The Artist as Activist
How do artists living in different contexts express themselves and provoke and engage the public to think about social and political issues through street art, activist art, and public art. Artists and curators from Russia, Nordic and Baltic countries share strategies, practices and beliefs.
Moderator: Lieven de Cauter (Belgium)
Panelists: Anton Polsky/Make (Russia), Tatiana Volkova (Russia), Antti Majava (Finland), Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen (Finland), Per Oskar Leu (Norway) and Marie Nerland (Norway).
Auditorium 2
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Panel Discussion: Censorship from a Globalized Perspective
The flow of information and ideas across borders and regions is an important dimension of globalization. However, because there are varying limits and conditions for freedom of expression, books, films, and other cultural expressions can create different reactions in different places. In this timely panel discussion, international curators share their experiences organizing exhibitions in constrained environments and investigate their role and responsibilities.
The panel discussion will focus on the debate surrounding the presentation of MANIFESTA 10 in St. Petersburg. Participants will share their experience creating work for the biennale in St. Petersburg focusing on questions of censorship and self-censorship and making the difficult decision to participate. Artist talks and discussion moderated by Victor Misiano (Russia). Speakers include: Sepake Angiama (UK), Kasper Koenig (Germany), Hermitage curator Dmitri Ozerkov (Russia), Hedwig Fijen, Timo Toots (Estonia) and Anna Horsberg Hansen (Norway). Ukrainian artist Alevtina Kakhidze will provide visual commentary throughout the panel discussion.
8:00 – 9:00 pm
Video Screening and Discussion: MANIFESTA 10 Public Program Presentation
Artists and staff participating in the MANIFESTA Public Program will present video project documentation and answer questions from the audience. Participants include: artists Deimantas Narkevičius (Lithuania), Natalya Kraevskaya and Ilya Orlov (Russia) and MANIFESTA 10 Public Program staff.
Commodore Lounge
Video and Performance Program
6:00 – 7:00 pm
Russian Video Program
Program of contemporary Russian video curated by St. Petersburg artist/curator Maria Godovannaya.
7:00 – 8:00 pm
Film/Video program curated by FRANK, an Oslo based platform established to nurture art and critical discourse revolving around gender issues, desire and sexuality. Frank Artists: Sille Storilhle and Liv Bugge. Presentation and Discussion.
8:00 – 9:00 pm
Life in Bytom Performance by Finnish artist Tero Nauha based on his travels in the former mining town of Bytom, Poland.
Participatory Activities:
Small Seminar Space
6:00 – 8:00 pm
FEEL YOURSELF RUSSIAN
WORKSHOP FOR MANIFESTA ONBOARD
MAP DESCRIBING THE LIFE TRAJECTORIES OF ST PETERSBURG ART WORKERS
Artists Emily Newman (USA), Olga Jitlina (Russia), and Sasha Sizova (Russia) will acquaint On Board participants with the St. Petersburg contemporary art scene through an interactive workshop. They have specially created for the On Board program a map of the art-institutions, schools, hang-outs and other geographical locations in St Petersburg that constitute points on the biographical trajectories of five fictional St Petersburg art-workers–amalgams of real people who make up the local scene. On the back side of the map there will be “portraits” of the five characters, along with a 10 point biography for each one. These biographical points will correspond to points on the map on the other side–forming a timeline through the city. Upon entering the room, visitors will be given a copy of the map and invited to choose which of the five characters most closely resembles them. During the workshop, the facilitators will (individually or in small groups) work through their character’s timeline with participants on the printed map, and supplement the map with discussions of the opportunities, road blocks and specific circumstances related to each character. Participants will be able to keep the map and use it as a resource to navigate the art scene in St. Petersburg. decide where else to go in St Petersburg.
8:00 – 9:00 pm
The Contemporary Art Triennial for School Students Eksperimenta! (Estonia):
Eksperimenta! Staff will discuss this important art event in the context of censorship in the arts and questions related to ethical borders and restricted topics in art education.
M10 On Board participants info