18 Oct - 08 Dec 14
INVASION. MUSEUM 2014
Curated by Sabina Shikhlinskaya
In frame ARTIM project
We are delighted to invite you to the final exhibition of the project ‘Invasion. Museum 2014’, which is to be held in Baku’s biggest museums – The National Museum of the Arts, The State Carpet Museum, The Historical Architectural Reserve ‘Icherisheher’ and The Historical Architectural Reserve ‘Ateshgah Temple’, from October 18th to December 8th 2014.
The new reality of last decades formed by the transformation processes of globalization or post socialist condition has actualized the special meaning of national identity and problems of its definition. Naturally it includes the topic of protection of cultural heritage. Globalization is not only the subject of discussion for various researchers but its effects reveal in everyday life as the essence of epochal transformation doesn't concern only to technologies and new media but to the changes of culture or society too.
The principle idea of multiculturalism suppose diversity and singularity in the condition of blurred borders but nevertheless there are some anxieties about possible disappearing of particular immaterial cultural traditions such as crafts, specific knowledge or artistic efficacy. If we pretend to be a part of international culture we should preserve our authentic forms of self-consciousness and assist new generation to develop them to the new level.
Dr.Rosmarie Beier-de Haan says: The museum is a mirror in which we look and are reflected as in kaleidoscope. And indeed, despite the different arguments about museum's conservatism as an institution itself more and more museums of contemporary art are appearing with reviewed functions and new role in a current reality. Beside of preservation and presentation of artifacts the new concept of museum is based on interaction and social relations. We can find enormous versions of methodology of how to connect historical experiences with present discussions and motivate young generation for further research activities.
I was deeply impressed doing project Invasion with my young colleagues as it was very vivid and fruitful process which gave us possibility to observe various artistic production form inspiration to final art works. It was real Invasion in the sense of transformation of specific homogenous spaces into something new substance.
By my opinion it's very important to work with context and improve individualistic visions by defining its distinctive features. As a result we have gotten very exciting collection of new works consisting of different personal interpretations of emerging artists. We all hope it will be appreciated and continue its development through a new initiatives and inspirational invasions. New artistic interventions in the art collections inherited by past generations may appear as manifestations of new positions through removing or changing of old ideologies and it makes possible to display ongoing processes which mainly are invisible or possibly will be appreciated after decades. It's important indeed to rethink museum's concept and turn this institution into a place for social discussions or even reflecting the conflicts between ways of seeing.
Sabina SHIKHLINSKAYA
Artist, Curator