17 Dec 2009

Manifesta Journal #7: The Grammar of the Exhibition

Founded in 2003, Manifesta Journal is an international magazine focusing on the theories and practices of contemporary curatorship. Manifesta Journal analyzes and investigates current developments, related to the developments in the Manifesta Biennial over the course of the past decade. The main aim of the journal is to give a stronger voice to the up-and-coming group of non-institutional curators, intellectuals, theorists and critics, who together can use this opportunity to articulate their positions and discuss their professional stance within a pan-European and transcontinental context. Justified by what is now the 'stable' status of the curator, by the diversity within the broader community of professional curators and by the network of curatorial schools, programs and courses in Europe and beyond, Manifesta Journal intends to fulfill an otherwise vacant duty – the establishment of curatorial self-reflection and investigation.

For a two-year period that has started in 2009, Manifesta Foundation is now presenting the first of six issues in the next series of Manifesta Journal, created by an enthusiastic international team of writers, editors, designers and co-publisher.


MJ#7: The Grammar of the Exhibition

Manifesta Journal's new series on contemporary curatorship starts with an inquiry into the fundamental aspects of curating - namely the grammar of the exhibition. In this context, grammar can be defined as the linguistics and vocabulary of curating, and can also be considered an accepted methodology to help interpret and define the ideas, decisions and actions of the curator.

Subdivided in various sections, a differentiated group of authors has been invited to contribute to the newly formatted MJ#7, designed by COUP from Amsterdam. Within the section Positions, Anselm Franke investigates the grammar of exhibitions under the conditions of the society of control. Within Discourse, Mieke Bal undertakes an analysis of the curatorial syntax by comparing the exhibitions 2MOVE (Belfast, Oslo, etc. 2007-2008) and Partners (Munich, 2002-2003). Mary Anne Staniszewski traces the grammar of exhibitions at the New York art institution Exit Art by making a close reading of their long-term program in the section Studies, while Cathleen Chaffee focuses on Marcel Broodthaers and his Musee d'Art Moderne exhibitions. Documents includes RoseLee Goldberg's seminal text Space as Praxis (1975), which is republished as an important document on the definition of space in artistic and curatorial practices.

MJ#7 includes contributions by: Zeigam Azizov, Mieke Bal, Cathleen Chaffee, Anselm Franke, RoseLee Goldberg, Milena Hoegsberg, Bartomeu Marí, Isabel Tejeda Martín, Peter Osborne, Filipa Ramos, Marco Scotini, Mary Anne Staniszewski, Markéta Stará.

Manifesta Journal is an initiative of the Manifesta Foundation, Amsterdam and is published together with our ongoing Italian publication partner Silvana Editoriale Spa, Milano.


Launch MJ#7

On December 17, 2009 from 17.00-19.00 the launch of the MJ#7 on 'The Grammar of the Exhibition' will be hosted by the Fonds BKVB at the Brouwersgracht 276 in Amsterdam.

Chief Editor: Viktor Misiano, Moscow (RU)
Senior Editor: Nathalie Zonnenberg, Amsterdam (NL)
Associate Editor: Filipa Ramos, London (UK) / Venice (I)
Managing Editor: Lisa Mazza, Amsterdam (NL)

The reprint of the first series of Manifesta Journal in the format of two books (MJ#1-3 and MJ#4-6) is available at the Manifesta Foundation. For further information please contact Lisa Mazza (managing editor): lisa@manifesta.org


For subscriptions
Manifesta Foundation
Prinsengracht 175 hs
1015 DS Amsterdam
The Netherlands
www.manifestajournal.org
E-mail subscription@manifesta.org
Tel: +31 20 672 1435

For orders
Silvana Editoriale Spa
Via Margherita de Vizzi, 86

20092 Cinisello Balsamo (Milano)
Italy
www.silvanaeditoriale.it
Flavio Caprera
E-mail flavio.caprera@silvanaeditoriale.it
Tel: +39 02 61836332