The theme of the 8 edition of Contexts is the Foreign Body to be looked at from various perspectives. We will take into consideration the problem of the status of art and artist in the contemporary world. We will ask whether art and artists are a foreign body in society, or whether they are its integral element. Can ephemeral art, which refers to the essence of real-time life and provides a universal message, have the power to heal? The place of the festival is Sokołowsko, a pioneering spa with traditions dating back to the mid-nineteenth century, hence being an inspiration to realize projects which focus on the healing nature of art. We also want
The art presented in the festival to serve the integration of artists with the local community, to provide an educational platform for young and upcoming artists, as well as establish contacts between artists representing different countries and cultures. We believe that the multiplicity of points of view favors understanding of complex phenomena, overcoming alienation and constructive creation of higher values.
Topics suggested to artists and critics:
The role of artists and art in the contemporary world, global culture. The problem of the artist’s identity in the era of virtual reality and multiplication of fictitious entities. A sense of strangeness is born at the moment when separateness, difference, alienation, lack of understanding arise: are we alien, because the environment does not accept us or because we do not accept the environment? Visionaries and precursors underestimated by contemporaries.
The question of relation to one’s body: in performance art, the artist’s body has become the object of art (body art). We present an international group of artists from this area, proposed by the festival’s co-curators VestAndPage (Verena Stenke and Andrea Pagnes, Germany / Italy), renowned performance artists, who also deal with art criticism, realize pro-social projects, and are organizers of the Performance Art Week Biennale in Venice.
Following the last edition’s practice, the festival will feature Open Platform. Polish and foreign artists are asked to submit their proposals to be presented at Konteksty accepted by the Foundation Art Board.
The 8th edition of Konteksty is a tribute to Józef Robakowski, an eternal experimenter, possessed by the “urged to create visions”. The nestor of Polish art, author of pioneering artistic realizations and strategies of action, whose work has its roots in the tradition of the Polish inter-war avant-garde. We present the artist’s works as well as a collection from his Exchange Gallery.
The festival features performances, sound pieces, installations, interventions in public space, interactive pieces, projects involving local community, screenings, exhibitions, talks, discussions and workshops.
Festival spaces:
„Zdrowie” Cinema – Główna 36, 58-350 Sokołowsko
Międzynarodowe Laboratorium Kultury – Różana 2
Villa Rosa – Różana 3