17 Nov 2008

Igor Zabel Award for Culture and Theory 2008: Book Launch and Award Ceremony

Igor Zabel Award for Culture and Theory 2008: Book Launch and Award Ceremony

Continuing Dialogues. A Tribute To Igor Zabel

JRP Ringier, 2008
Softcover, 180 x 230 MM
213 Pages, English Edition
ISBN 978-3-905829-91-4

The Slovenian curator, art critic, writer and theorist Igor Zabel (1958–2005) was largely responsible for putting Slovenian art on the map of the international art scene. As senior curator of Moderna galerija in Ljubljana, he was engaged in establishing links between 'East' and 'West' Europe without losing a critical perspective of the ongoing transformations. In this book, which aims to provide an appreciative insight into Zabel's far-reaching commitment, with contributions by artists and theorists it will become clear that, despite his unblinking perception of all the apparently unbridgeable differences involved, continuing dialogues played a fundamental role in his practice as both a theorist and a curator.

The aim of the book that accompanies the Igor Zabel Award for Culture and Theory is to continue the theories and approach pursued by Igor Zabel in his exhibitions, publications, critical writings and European exchange initiatives. An introductory round-table session focuses on the historical and local setting which formed the background for his campaigns for an art historical as well as theoretical grounding of Slovene art and for the internationalization of the scene. Participants are Zdenka Badovinac, Vadim Fishkin, Dusan Mandić, Bojana Piškur, Igor Španjol and Herwig G. Höller.

Further the contributions by Zdenka Badovinac, Francesco Bonami, Eda Čufer, Ješa Denegri, Charles Esche, Viktor Misiano, Kathrin Rhomberg, and Maria Hlavajova, colleagues and co-curators of Zabel's, shed light on the various cultural areas of his activity as a critical thinker and writer. A closing chapter contains contributions by Zoran Erić, Suzana Milevska, Renata Salecl, and Georg Schöllhammer, who attempt to demonstrate the continuing relevance of Igor Zabel's (art)-political reflections by taking stock of the current cultural and political forms of dialogue in Europe.

Contributing artists are AA Bronson, Art & Language, Jože Barši, Johanna Billing, Josef Dabernig, IRWIN, Valery Koshlyakov, Luisa Lambri, Yuri Leiderman, Deimantas Narkevičius, Roman Ondák, Tadej Pogačar, Marko Pogačnik, Marjetica Potrč, Florian Pumhösl, Mladen Stilinović.

Edited by Christa Benzer, Christine Böhler, Christiane Erharter.

Published with ERSTE Foundation and Igor Zabel Association for Culture and Theory.

www.jrp-ringier.com

The book launch will take place on Friday, 21 November 2008, 5 pm at CD Club, Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre, Ljubljana. With statements by Fouad Asfour, Georg Schöllhammer, WHW and the editors. The authors and artists will be present.

Igor Zabel Award for Culture and Theory 2008

On Friday, 21 November 2008, 9 pm:
Award Ceremony and Reception at Cankarjev dom, Grand Reception Hall, Ljubljana

The Igor Zabel Award for Culture and Theory is awarded in recognition of outstanding cultural activities related to the Central and South Eastern European region. The laureate is selected by a renowned international committee of experts. Appointed by ERSTE Foundation, the jury in 2008 consists of Eda Čufer, Josef Dabernig and Charles Esche. International curators, theorists, writers, and critics are eligible whose work spans the region, and who either come from the region or live and/or work there. In addition to the award of € 40.000, three working grants of €12.000 each are awarded, two by the jury, one by the laureate.

The Igor Zabel Award for Culture and Theory 2008 goes to What, How and for Whom (WHW), Zagreb.

Grants go to Fouad Asfour, Vienna and Johannesburg, Erden Kosova, Istanbul and Prelom Kolektiv, Belgrade.

The Igor Zabel Award for Culture and Theory is initiated and funded by ERSTE Foundation.

CONTACTS

Igor Zabel Association for Culture and Theory, Press: Dragana Radojevic
Jamnikarjeva 16, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
info@igorzabelassociation.org, www.igorzabelassociation.org

ERSTE Foundation, Communications: Maribel Königer, Jovana Trifunovic
Graben 21, 1010 Vienna, Austria
Tel. +43 50100 15105, press@erstestiftung.org, www.erstestiftung.org