ULTRA X HAPS TALK 002 “Contemporary Art in Central Asia. Post-Soviet Context.”

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ULTRA X HAPS TALK – Connecting Kyoto and the World through Contemporary Art

The environment surrounding contemporary art has become vastly more complex over the past few decades. Faced with this situation, it is no easy task for artists to find a way to be active at a global level. Naturally, it is virtually impossible to get a firm grasp on the art scenes that are being produced concurrently all over the world. In particular, in neighboring Asian countries that are seeing rapid economic growth and modernization, there are more opportunities than ever before to show one’s work, taking into account the new art museums and art fairs that are being established, and the flourishing numbers of international exhibitions. Although global attention focused on this region has increased, the situation is quite different in Japan, where there is a general sense that the work of developing art-related institutions has been finished. However, it is precisely this state of affairs that has led to a renewed questioning of how global networks are constructed, a reconsideration of how institutionalization works, and the role of artists in society.
In Kyoto, art schools produce a large number of new artists each year. But what kinds of connections might one discover today between this center of traditional Japanese culture and the world of contemporary art that has grown ever more complex in this way? The “ULTRA x HAPS” series of talks, jointly organized by Kyoto University of Art and Design and Higashiyama Artists Placement Service (HAPS), will invite artists, curators, collectors, researchers, and gallerists from the world’s major cities to hold discussions that will allow participants to deepen their understanding and experience of the world.

① The “ULTRA×HAPS” talks are part of the Curatorial Research Program of Higashiyama Artists Placement Service (HAPS), which seeks to provide support to young emerging artists.
② ULTRA is named after the Ultra Factory at Kyoto University of Art and Design, which seeks to cultivate transcendent forms of creativity.
③ The Kyoto University of Art and Design is dedicated to establishing an institution that will foster artists from Kyoto who aim to work in the contemporary art world at a global level.

About the Talk

Time/Date: 19:00-20:30 Thursday, August 4, 2016
Venue: Chiyukan, Kyoto University of Art and Design
http://www.kyoto-art.ac.jp/info/about/access/campusmap/
English>Japanese consecutive translation available
Admission: Free (Booking required)
Seating Capacity: 100

Organized by: Kyoto University of Art and Design, Graduate School of Art and Design Studies /
　　　　　　　　Higashiyama Artists Placement Service（HAPS）

Gulnara Kasmalieva & Muratbek Djumaliev (artists, Kyrgyz Republic)

“Contemporary Art in Central Asia. Post-Soviet Context.”
In Central Asian countries located inland of the Eurasian continent, we can observe powerful contemporary art practices from post soviet complexities. Based in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, Gulnara Kasmalieva & Muratbek Djumaliev has been a leading voice from the region in the international contemporary art platform, while working on the school projects for the coming generation. In ULTRAxHAPS TALK002, we can hear them talk about diverse projects mostly from their first decade, 1998-2008, including Pavilion of Central Asia in Venice Biennale and the main participants from Central Asia, then to their project of school in 2009-2012.

About the Speakers

Gulnara Kasmalieva and Muratbek Djumaliev were both born in Bishkek in Kyrgyz Republic where they are currently based. During Soviet Union era, Kasmalieva studied art in Moscow and Djumaliev did the same in St. Petersburg. They have been collaborating since 1998 and participated in a number of international exhibitions including the first Central Asian Pavilion in 51st Biennale of Venice (2005), Singapore Biennale (2006), Sharjah Biennale (2007) as well as the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea (2012). From 2005 to 2008, they have curated “Bishkek Exhibition of Contemporary Art” and from 2009 to 2012 initiated a school for contemporary art. They are participating in 2016 Aichi Triennale.

Booking & Inquiries

For Booking and Inquiries: ULTRA_HAPS@office.kyoto-art.ac.jp
*Please send 1.Name, 2.Number of participants, 3.Phone number or email address, 4.Occupation (for student, please note the school name)


5 Jul, 2016


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