vrijdag 2 juli 2004 t/m zondag 29 augustus 2004
BREAKTHROUGH
With help from the embassies of the 10 new EU member states, the organizers of Breakthrough came in contact with ten curators. These independent curators or curators of renowned institutions were asked to select the artists from their country. They also wrote short texts about these artists, and a longer piece on the developments of modern art in their country. These texts are also printed in the catalogue accompanying the exhibition, which is for sale at the Grote Kerk Den Haag.
Arnoud Odding and Michiel de Ligt, The European Context
Radek Vana, <waanja> Selection Process
Radek Vana, <waanja> Czech Republic
Elena Parpa, Cyprus
Mare Pedanek and Elin Kard, Estonia
Barnabas Bencsik, Hungary
Inese Baranovska, Latvia
Ieva Kuiziniene, Lithuania
Kenneth Wain, Malta
Monika Szewczyk and Magdalena Godlewska-Siwerska, Poland
Jana Oravcova, Slovakia
Bojana Kunst and Natasa Petresin, Slovenia
Arnoud Odding and Michiel de Ligt, The European Context
Radek Vana, <waanja> Selection Process
Radek Vana, <waanja> Czech Republic
Elena Parpa, Cyprus
Mare Pedanek and Elin Kard, Estonia
Barnabas Bencsik, Hungary
Inese Baranovska, Latvia
Ieva Kuiziniene, Lithuania
Kenneth Wain, Malta
Monika Szewczyk and Magdalena Godlewska-Siwerska, Poland
Jana Oravcova, Slovakia
Bojana Kunst and Natasa Petresin, Slovenia
THE EUROPEAN CONTEXT
Europe and the European Union are in a process of continuous and rapid change. Less than twenty years ago the situation was clear: there was East and there was West. These words expressed two completely different concepts of how to arrange a society and how to stimulate the economy. In little more than a decade much has changed. In May of this year ten countries, eight of them being part of the former East Block, have joined the European Union. The Union will not only expand but will actually change radically. Much work has been done on a European Constitution and the Euro already is a visible result of an ongoing integration of the member states’ economies.
On the other hand criticism is increasing in the European member states. The impact of “Brussels” on proper national identity is tremendous and democratic processes are not clear for many citizens.
Looking at Europe from the inside one finds many contradictions. However, taking some distance and comparing the European context with the United States or with Asia, something of a typical European spirit and culture comes into sight, as diverse and manifold as it may be.
Together with the 'old' member states, the 'new' members will shape the future of the Union. This development is a political, economic and cultural process, which is highly autonomous in nature. Knowledge of each other’s culture will be essential in this process. Questions arise like what is occupying people’s minds and what are the new developments and social forces.
Breakthrough can be seen as a contribution to the cultural introduction of the 10 new members towards each other and towards the other members of the European Union; an exhibition with the best, the most progressive and the most renewing on offer in the new member states.
For centuries churches have been places where people meet each other. In a way they were cultural centres 'avant la lettre'. Nowadays the Grote Kerk in The Hague is not so much in use for the old church-rituals any more. So the Grote Kerk-foundation had to look for new and meaningful functions. The board decided the historic function of contemplation and rituals should be revived in a modern way. The church is now in use for lectures, conferences, banquets, concerts, exhibitions and (still a few times per year) for holy services. The staging of exhibitions of great quality for a large audience is one of the most important new functions of the Grote Kerk. Since ten years now, the church organises a large-scale exhibition each year during the summer. In years to come we hope to be able to gradually expand this 'modern ritual' throughout the year.
Breakthrough was an initiative of the Federation of International Cultural and Friendship Societies in the Netherlands (FICVN). We would especially like to thank Gerard Giebels and Pim ten Hoorn for their support and enthusiasm throughout the past year.
The realization of this exhibition would not have been possible without the financial support from the following organizations and institutions: The Hague municipality, Den Haag 2004, Fonds 1818, M.A.O.C. Gravin van Bylandtstichting, K.F. Heinfonds, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds. We thank them for their generous support.
We would also like to thank all our contacts of the ten involved embassies. Through them we came into contact with curators in their home countries, who organised the pre-selection for Breakthrough. We want to thank those curators for all their efforts to come up with a great selection. We also want to thank Cees de Boer, Radek Vana, Macha Roesink and Barnabas Benczik for their work on the final selection that took place in The Hague.
Furthermore we want to thank Annalily van den Broeke, who did the production of the exhibition; Nicole, who is responsible for the communication; Bart Guldemond, exhibition design; Peter Bilak, graphic design and the staff of the Grote Kerk for all their efforts to make this exhibition a success.
And finally we want to thank all the participating artists for making these outstanding works and thus enabling us to compose an exhibition which we hope will be seen by many people.
Michiel de Ligt, director Grote Kerk Den Haag
Arnoud Odding, projectdirector Breakthrough
On the other hand criticism is increasing in the European member states. The impact of “Brussels” on proper national identity is tremendous and democratic processes are not clear for many citizens.
Looking at Europe from the inside one finds many contradictions. However, taking some distance and comparing the European context with the United States or with Asia, something of a typical European spirit and culture comes into sight, as diverse and manifold as it may be.
Together with the 'old' member states, the 'new' members will shape the future of the Union. This development is a political, economic and cultural process, which is highly autonomous in nature. Knowledge of each other’s culture will be essential in this process. Questions arise like what is occupying people’s minds and what are the new developments and social forces.
Breakthrough can be seen as a contribution to the cultural introduction of the 10 new members towards each other and towards the other members of the European Union; an exhibition with the best, the most progressive and the most renewing on offer in the new member states.
For centuries churches have been places where people meet each other. In a way they were cultural centres 'avant la lettre'. Nowadays the Grote Kerk in The Hague is not so much in use for the old church-rituals any more. So the Grote Kerk-foundation had to look for new and meaningful functions. The board decided the historic function of contemplation and rituals should be revived in a modern way. The church is now in use for lectures, conferences, banquets, concerts, exhibitions and (still a few times per year) for holy services. The staging of exhibitions of great quality for a large audience is one of the most important new functions of the Grote Kerk. Since ten years now, the church organises a large-scale exhibition each year during the summer. In years to come we hope to be able to gradually expand this 'modern ritual' throughout the year.
Breakthrough was an initiative of the Federation of International Cultural and Friendship Societies in the Netherlands (FICVN). We would especially like to thank Gerard Giebels and Pim ten Hoorn for their support and enthusiasm throughout the past year.
The realization of this exhibition would not have been possible without the financial support from the following organizations and institutions: The Hague municipality, Den Haag 2004, Fonds 1818, M.A.O.C. Gravin van Bylandtstichting, K.F. Heinfonds, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds. We thank them for their generous support.
We would also like to thank all our contacts of the ten involved embassies. Through them we came into contact with curators in their home countries, who organised the pre-selection for Breakthrough. We want to thank those curators for all their efforts to come up with a great selection. We also want to thank Cees de Boer, Radek Vana, Macha Roesink and Barnabas Benczik for their work on the final selection that took place in The Hague.
Furthermore we want to thank Annalily van den Broeke, who did the production of the exhibition; Nicole, who is responsible for the communication; Bart Guldemond, exhibition design; Peter Bilak, graphic design and the staff of the Grote Kerk for all their efforts to make this exhibition a success.
And finally we want to thank all the participating artists for making these outstanding works and thus enabling us to compose an exhibition which we hope will be seen by many people.
Michiel de Ligt, director Grote Kerk Den Haag
Arnoud Odding, projectdirector Breakthrough
OPENING
Speech by Jan Schinkelshoek, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation Grote Kerk Den Haag
Speech by drs.W.J. Deetman, Mayor of The Hague
Speech by Mrs Mr. M.C. Van der Laan, State Secretary of Culture here
Speech by drs.W.J. Deetman, Mayor of The Hague
Speech by Mrs Mr. M.C. Van der Laan, State Secretary of Culture here
ARTISTS
Zbyněk Baladrán
Ruth Bianco
Erik Binder
Marko Blažo
Vesna Bukovec
Austin Camilleri
Jiří Černický
Attila Csörgõ
Eliza Galey
Matej Gavula
Kaspars Goba
Małgorzata Jabłońska
Kai Kaljo
Krištof Kintera
Zdena Kolečková
Martin Kollár
Jan Jakub Kotík
Antal Lakner
Andrew Mikšys
Hajnal Németh
Demetris Neokleous
Lucia Nimcová
pureculture (Emíls Rode, Simona Weiland, Gatis Rozenfelds)
Eglė Rakauskaitė
Zbigniew Rogalski
Tao G. Vrhovec Sambolec
Ene-Liis Semper
Laura Stasiulytė
Tomáš Svoboda
Jaan Toomik
Mare Tralla
Polona Tratnik
Kateřina Vincourová
Marta Vosyliūtė
Julita Wójcik
Anita Zabilevska
Artur Žmijewski
Ruth Bianco
Erik Binder
Marko Blažo
Vesna Bukovec
Austin Camilleri
Jiří Černický
Attila Csörgõ
Eliza Galey
Matej Gavula
Kaspars Goba
Małgorzata Jabłońska
Kai Kaljo
Krištof Kintera
Zdena Kolečková
Martin Kollár
Jan Jakub Kotík
Antal Lakner
Andrew Mikšys
Hajnal Németh
Demetris Neokleous
Lucia Nimcová
pureculture (Emíls Rode, Simona Weiland, Gatis Rozenfelds)
Eglė Rakauskaitė
Zbigniew Rogalski
Tao G. Vrhovec Sambolec
Ene-Liis Semper
Laura Stasiulytė
Tomáš Svoboda
Jaan Toomik
Mare Tralla
Polona Tratnik
Kateřina Vincourová
Marta Vosyliūtė
Julita Wójcik
Anita Zabilevska
Artur Žmijewski
COLOPHON
Breakthrough is a project from the Stichting Grote Kerk, The Hague and an initiative of Federation of International Cultural and Friendship Societies in the Netherlands (FICVN)
Concept and projectdirection: Arnoud Odding, O dubbel d [CCP]
Production: Annalily van den Broeke, Art Ants
Graphic design: Peter Bil'ak, www.peterb.sk
Communications: Nicole, Uniquole public relations
Exhibition design: Bart Guldemond
Guidance: Michiel de Ligt and Brigitte Wolf, Stichting Grote Kerk Den Haag
Pre-selection
Elena Parpa – Independent curator Cyprus
Ieva Kuiziniene – Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts, Lithuania
Inese Baranovska – Gallery of the Artists' Union of Latvia
Monika Szewczyk – Galerie Arsenal – Poland
Magdalena Godlewska-Siwerska – Galerie Arsenal, Poland
Barnabas Bencsik – "Hongarije aan Zee" – Hungarian Cultural Season in the
Netherlands
Radek Vana, <waanja> Czech Republic, independent curator
Bojana Kunst – independent curator, Slovenia
Natasa Petresin – philosopher and publicist, Slovenia
Jana Oravcova – Foundation Center for Contemporary Arts, Slovakia
Mare Pedanek – Estonian Centre of Contemporary Art
Elin Kard – independent curator, Estonia
Kenneth Wain, independent curator, Malta
Final selection
Barnabas Bencsik- "Hongarije aan Zee" – Hungarian Cultural Season in the Netherlands
Cees de Boer – independent curator, Amsterdam
Bart Guldemond, exhibition designer, Amsterdam
Radek Vana, <waanja>, independent curator, Amsterdam
Macha Roesink – Director Museum De Paviljoens
Financially supported by
The Hague municipality
Stichting Den Haag 2004
Fonds 1818
M.A.O.C. Gravin van Bylandtstichting
K.F. Heinfonds
Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds ‘s-Gravenhage
VSB fonds
Special thanks to the embassies and governmental organizations
Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania
Embassy of the Czech Republic
Czech Centre
Embassy of Poland
Embassy of Malta
Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia
Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus
Embassy of the Republic of Hungary
Embassy of the Slovak Republic
Embassy of the Republic of Latvia
Embassy of the Slovak Republic
Estonian Mission to the European Union
Ministry for the foreign affairs of the Republic of Slovenia
Breakthrough is organized under the auspices of the Federation of International Cultural and Friendship Societies in the Netherlands (FICVN) with their partners:
Netherlands-Hungary Cultural Foundation
Netherlands-Baltic Association
Polish-Netherlands Cultural Foundation
Association of Friends the Netherlands-Czech Republic and Slovakia
Concept and projectdirection: Arnoud Odding, O dubbel d [CCP]
Production: Annalily van den Broeke, Art Ants
Graphic design: Peter Bil'ak, www.peterb.sk
Communications: Nicole, Uniquole public relations
Exhibition design: Bart Guldemond
Guidance: Michiel de Ligt and Brigitte Wolf, Stichting Grote Kerk Den Haag
Pre-selection
Elena Parpa – Independent curator Cyprus
Ieva Kuiziniene – Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts, Lithuania
Inese Baranovska – Gallery of the Artists' Union of Latvia
Monika Szewczyk – Galerie Arsenal – Poland
Magdalena Godlewska-Siwerska – Galerie Arsenal, Poland
Barnabas Bencsik – "Hongarije aan Zee" – Hungarian Cultural Season in the
Netherlands
Radek Vana, <waanja> Czech Republic, independent curator
Bojana Kunst – independent curator, Slovenia
Natasa Petresin – philosopher and publicist, Slovenia
Jana Oravcova – Foundation Center for Contemporary Arts, Slovakia
Mare Pedanek – Estonian Centre of Contemporary Art
Elin Kard – independent curator, Estonia
Kenneth Wain, independent curator, Malta
Final selection
Barnabas Bencsik- "Hongarije aan Zee" – Hungarian Cultural Season in the Netherlands
Cees de Boer – independent curator, Amsterdam
Bart Guldemond, exhibition designer, Amsterdam
Radek Vana, <waanja>, independent curator, Amsterdam
Macha Roesink – Director Museum De Paviljoens
Financially supported by
The Hague municipality
Stichting Den Haag 2004
Fonds 1818
M.A.O.C. Gravin van Bylandtstichting
K.F. Heinfonds
Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds ‘s-Gravenhage
VSB fonds
Special thanks to the embassies and governmental organizations
Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania
Embassy of the Czech Republic
Czech Centre
Embassy of Poland
Embassy of Malta
Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia
Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus
Embassy of the Republic of Hungary
Embassy of the Slovak Republic
Embassy of the Republic of Latvia
Embassy of the Slovak Republic
Estonian Mission to the European Union
Ministry for the foreign affairs of the Republic of Slovenia
Breakthrough is organized under the auspices of the Federation of International Cultural and Friendship Societies in the Netherlands (FICVN) with their partners:
Netherlands-Hungary Cultural Foundation
Netherlands-Baltic Association
Polish-Netherlands Cultural Foundation
Association of Friends the Netherlands-Czech Republic and Slovakia
PERIODE vrijdag 2 juli tot en met zondag 29 augustus
TIJD dinsdag t/m zondag van 11.00 tot 17.00 uur / donderdagavond tot 21.00 uur
TOEGANG € 3,50 / € 2,50 Pas 65, Studentenpas, kortingsbon donateurs / € 1,00 kinderen tot 12 jaar
INFORMATIE Breakthrough