08 Sep 2010

First International Festival of the Artist's Book: Blind Date Convention, Ljubljana

Blind Date Convention
First International Festival of the Artist's Book
Ljubljana, 14 September – 20 October 2010


Zavod P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. is pleased to announce the Blind Date Convention, the First International Festival of the Artist's Book and Artist's Publications, which will unfold in Ljubljana from 14 September to 20 October 2010.

The festival represents this year's central event devoted exclusively to the artist book as a specific medium of visual arts.

The Blind Date Convention is prepared with a number of local and international partners and is a component of the UNESCO project Ljubljana – World Book Capital 2010. Festival activities will take place in various locations around the city: Kresija Gallery, KAPSULA, P74 Center and Gallery, Jakopič Gallery, and the Museum of Modern Art, Ljubljana (Moderna galerija).

The festival comprises a rich exhibition program, educational workshops, presentations of newly released artist books, a cycle of experimental music concerts, public conversations, video projections, new magazine releases, etc.

The exhibition program kicks off with an anthological overview of Slovene artist books, The Artist Book in Slovenia 1966–2010, which will open 14 September 2010 at Kresija Gallery. The exhibition was prepared in collaboration with Moderna galerija, Ljubljana, the International Centre of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana (MGLC) and numerous private partners. The exhibition is curated by Tadej Pogačar and assistant curator Sonja Zavrtanik. The Artist Book in Slovenia 1966–2010 is the first retrospective exhibition of artist books made in Slovenia – including legendary editions of the OHO Group from the early 1960s to editions of artists working today.

On Wednesday, 15 September 2010, in KAPSULA, we present the program of independent distributor MOTTO Distribution which offers more than 3000 titles of independent artist publications and fanzines throughout bookstores in Berlin and Zürich. With its traveling bookstore project, MOTTO has visited Vilnius, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Moscow, Vancouver, Stuttgart, Athens, Seoul, Tokyo and Paris. MOTTO organizes exhibitions, conversations about artist books, screenings, and numerous related events. The selection of publications in KAPSULA will represent independent experimental artist publications and fanzines of young authors.

On Thursday, 16 September 2010, follows the opening of the solo exhibition Book – Sculpture by Italian artist Pino Poggi in Jakopič Gallery. Pino Poggi is an important visual creator, active in a number of fields of contemporary visual creation. He is known for his social engagement in a series of works, performances and installations that he has been making since the 1970s. Artist books occupy a special status in his oeuvre, which he mostly considers as a sculptural whole. The exhibition is curated by Marko Košan and is a co-production with Koroška Gallery of Fine Arts, Slovenj Gradec.

On Friday, 17 September 2010 in P74 Center and Gallery we open the solo exhibition by Vlado Martek with the title Poetry in Action. The exhibition will be the first entire presentation of Martek's artist books which he inventively and exceptionally fuses with philosophy and poetry. The exhibition is curated by Branka Stipančić, and created in collaboration with g-mk/Galerija Miroslav Kraljević in Zagreb.

The exhibition will accompany the release of the first issue of a new specialized periodical publication dedicated to artist books entitled Notebook of Artist Books and the exclusive presentation of the book Renaming Machine.

Alongside the exhibition will be video projections from the biennial event of short videos '-5 minutes 2010' and the concert cycle of sound research and experimental music 'Sound Explicit 2010'.

In the frame of the Blind Date Convention we are also announcing the Ljubljana Artist Book Fair 2010 – the first fair of its kind in Ljubljana – which will take place at Jakopič Gallery on Friday 17 September and Saturday 18 September 2010.

The book fair will present the most important independent publishers from the region, with guests from northern Europe and America, as well as artist-publishers, the publication activities of contemporary arts institutions, and independent publications, etc.
The book fair will also include a diverse accompanying program of lectures, interviews, workshops, and book releases of artist's books, etc.

Entrance to the fair is free. You are kindly invited!

Blind Date Convention is a part of Ljubljana – UNESCO World Capital of Book project.