Contemporary Balkan Art (CoBA) presents their latest exhibition Interruption at LIBRARY, St Martin’s Lane, London. The exhibition will be opened by Dr Victoria Alexander, Senior Lecturer in Arts Management at Goldsmiths University and Mara Alves, Chief Curator at D Contemporary Gallery, London. Interruption features over 40 paintings, sculptures, photographs, prints and graphics, never exhibited in London, from 16 artists who will bring Balkan’s rich artistic philosophy to Great Britain.
This exhibition extends CoBA’s focus on the individual creative work of contemporary Balkan artists, who are best known for their social commentary and unique understanding of various absurdities of modern life and politics. The Balkan transitional period, from the collapse of Yugoslav socialism to the present day, can be characterized by various forms of interruption including fragmentation, economic uncertainty and rapid cultural and demographic changes. The pressures of dynamic fluctuations in world politics, including the phenomena of Brexit, Trump’s presidency and Europe’s increasing move to the political right, bring the ‘Balkan experience’ ever closer to the mainstream. Series of events will accompany the exhibition.
Monday, 10 April 2017, 7.30pm
Artist in Conversation
LIBRARY presents Artist in Conversation with Branislav Radeljic (CoBA) and two distinguished artists from the Balkans, Marija Sevic and Tadija Janicic.
Tuesday, 25 April 2017, 7.30pm
How brutalism and architecture helped build the national identity in former Yugoslavia
Ana Russell-Omaljev (CoBA) talks with the photographer Jovana Mladenovic about her project ‘Monumental Fear’ that documents commemorative WWII monuments.
Wednesday, 10 May 2017, 7.30pm
Urban Mythology
LIBRARY present Artist in Conversation with Branislav Radeljic (CoBA) and Petar Mirkovic, a notable artist from the Balkans.
Thursday 11th May, 2017, 7.30pm
Closing party: in homage to Maria Abramovic’s new book ‘Walk Through Walls: A Memoir’, CoBA will host a panel discussion on her Method, Marina’s experiences as an artist and how her work responds to culture and society.
Interruption is exhibiting at LIBRARY, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4BD from 6 April until 11 May 2017 with private view 6-10pm on 6 April and closing reception 6-10pm on 11 May. If you find yourself in London on these days, make sure to RSVP with your name (and names of any guests) here russell-omaljev@contemporarybalkanart.com
