The ICC at the Triennial of Contemporary Central European Art

The International Cultural Center was one of the institutions that presented themselves as part of the Triennial of Contemporary Central European Art. The Triennial, the fruit of many years of efforts by the Olomouc Art Museum, was part of the Central European Forum Olomouc (SEFO) program and complemented the range of activities dedicated to the region.

The Triennial of Contemporary Central European Art SEFO 2021 was called the Universum. This project was based on many years of efforts by the Museum of Art in Olomouc to not only recall, but also implement the Central European idea.

In connection with the long-term strategy of the Central European Forum Olomouc (SEFO), selected foreign institutions were also presented as part of the accompanying programme of the SEFO 2021 triennial. The education departments of the SEFO's partner institutions were invited to collaborate on the international programme. With the prepared submissions, these partners transfered the triennial from Olomouc to their spaces and introduced their visitors to the individual topics of the main exposition of the SEFO 2021 Universum triennial, while offering their own interpretation of the chosen issue.

The collaboration was based on the idea that the approaches presented in the Olomouc exhibition were undoubtedly unique, but the issues they addressed were universal and could be repeatedly examined in a large number of independent cases within a (limited) category of visual art. Reinterpretation does not refute the presented system; on the contrary, it opens it to new perspectives and confirms that the process of “questioning” can never be considered complete.

The programme itself took place on two levels, mainly during selected weeks in individual partner museums with a focus on local audiences, but also in part online with an effort to create an interactive network across institutions.

Partners: International Cultural Centre in Krakow, Ludwig Museum Budapest, Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz, East Slovak Gallery in Košice
Coordination: Olomouc Museum of Art
- Programme Coordinator | Terezie Čermáková | cermakova@muo.cz
- Press | Tomáš Kasal | kasal@muo.cz

The ICC programme, accompanying the MULTIversum — from 2 September to 10 September
Topic: "Human orders and visual languages – structuralism, constructivism, symbolism"

"At a Distance, Meeting with Professor Jan Pamuła"
September 2, 19.00

A meeting devoted to selected problems in the work of this pioneer of Polish computer art and his personal experiences.

Professor Jan Pamuła is a versatile artist, painter, graphic designer, and theoretician, working with both traditional techniques and digital media. He creates his own vision of reality where structure works as a stabilising element, while colours evoke emotions and provide a means for the artist’s expression. His works come as a result of interaction with a place – with cultural and spiritual spaces of various areas around the globe.

During the meeting, we got to know works of particular importance, selected to show the variety of techniques used by the artist and to highlight the international context in which they function. The artist's world was introduced through his works from the 1970s and the ideas they contained.

The event was a part of "At a Distance" series – a virtual series of meetings and talks about Krakow, Central Europe, architecture and art.

The lecture was made available on YouTube with English subtitles.
More about the meeting under the following link: At a Distance, Meeting with Professor Jan Pamuła

Mature for Art on-line: "The structure of life – modern city and its human inhabitant"
September 10, 11.00

The lecture addressed the way we imagine a modern man, his lifestyle and interaction with the environment – this perspective takes into account the new organisation of the human being in private and public spaces, e.g. in relation to architecture. The lecture included topics such as W. Strzemiński and K. Kobro’s concept of “functionalised city”, the idea of Raumstadt by F. Kiesler, the project of new organisation of kitchen space proposed by B. and S. Brukalski, or discussions on new design and architecture conducted by representatives of the Czech avant-garde in “ReD” monthly.

The lecture took place online via Zoom.

Host: Małgorzata Jędrzejczyk - PhD candidate at the Institute of Art History at the Jagiellonian University and a graduate of the interdisciplinary doctoral studies Society - Technologies - Environment. She works as cultural educator and independent curator. Her research focuses on the concept of sculpture and the issue of opening the work to the viewer in Katarzyna Kobro's work. On a daily basis, she works at the branch of the Pilecki Institute in Berlin.

More information about the meeting under the following link: Mature for art.

Avant-garde Krakow – a city walk
September 4, 11.00

Artists and writers have always been attracted to Krakow. It was here that they edited innovative publications and enjoyed heated debates among the hustle and bustle of cafes. A walk through the well-known streets of Krakow allowed the participants to discover its forgotten avant-garde face.

Moderator: Joanna Majewska - ICC educator

An event aimed at adult participants.

Structures from nature – art workshops for children
September 5, 12.30

Art workshops for children aged 4-8, during which, together with the participants, we carefully looked at the world around us. From photos, newspaper clippings and postcards, workshop participants eliminated all that which was realistic – human figures, trees or flowers, this way creating abstract collages.

Workshops were held at the ICC at Rynek Główny 25..
 
The language of geometry – mathematical and artistic workshops
September 7, 16.00

Workshops for children aged 5 to 10, during which we looked at art from the mathematical perspective – through the prism of geometry. Patterns, laws, and rules produce aesthetic, pleasing, orderly structures. During the workshops, using straight lines, flat, convex and concave figures, as well as polygons and broken figures, we  created unique artistic works.

Workshops were held at the ICC at Rynek Główny 25.