This volume surveys experimental art made in six Central Eastern European nations – GDR, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Yugoslavia – between the 1960s and 1980s. Embracing conceptual or formal innovation and a spirit of adventurousness, the book sheds light on the ways that artists refused, eluded and subverted official systems. While it includes canonical figures, the book focuses on lesser known-practitioners (women-artists, artists-collectives, queer artists).
Despite their geographical proximity, artists working in these nations during this time encountered different conditions for daily life and art-making, confronting varying degrees of control and pressure exerted by state authorities. While it presents select canonical figures from the region, the exhibition foregrounds lesser-known practitioners, particularly women artists, artist collectives and those exploring embodiment through an LGBTQ+ lens.
Designed by Melbourne designers Ziga Testen and Kim Mumm Hansen from Graphic Design Work.
Artists include: Milan Adamčiak, Autoperformationsartisten, AWACS, Lubomír Beneš, Sándor Benkö, A.E. Bizottság, Vladimir Bonačić, Geta Brătescu, Adina Caloenescu, Zdeňka Čechová, Věra Chytilová, Lutz Dammbeck, Jan Dobkowski, Sherban Epuré, Barbara Falender, Lászlo Fehér, Stano Filko, AG Geige, Teresa Gierzyńska, Karpo Godina, Tomislav Gotovac, Ion Grigorescu, Wiktor Gutt & Waldemar Raniszewski, Gino Hahnemann, Heino Hilger, Károly Hopp-Halász, Janós Istvány, Sanja Iveković, Libuše Jarcovjáková, Željko Jerman, Krzysztof Jung, Eva Kmentová, Milan Knížák/AKTUAL Group, Július Koller, Jirí Kovanda, Gyula Konkoly, Kryzys, Jolanta Marcolla, Florin Maxa, Tomislav Mikulić, Teresa Murak, Katalin Ladik, Matei Lăzărescu, Natalia LL, Ana Lupaş, Dóra Maurer, Simon Menner, Andrzej Mitan, Kolomon Novak, Ewa Partum, Plastic People of the Universe, Polish Radio Experimental Studio, Queer Art Institute, Józef Robakowski, Jerzy Rosołowicz, Akademia Ruchu, Zbigniew Rybczyński, Alina Szapocznikow, Peter Štembera and Krzysztof Wodiczko.
ISBN 9781935963288. Walker Art Center. hb. 408 pages. 180 colour, 150 b/w ills. 27.9 x 24.1 cm.
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