DAYS OF “POLITICAL CRITIQUE” IN KHARKIV
On November 28 – 30, 2012 the Days of Political Critique will take place in Kharkiv. Political Critique is a magazine, which is being published by the intellectual community of Visual Culture Research Center (Kyiv). The programme of events includes: presentation of the fourth issue of Political Critique, play reading of Rainbow Sector by Paweł Demirski, lecture by the theatre critic Igor Stokfiszewski on How Theatre Changes Reality?, and a discussion: Love and Hatred for the Other.
On November 28th, at 19:00, presentation of Political Critique magazine will take place at Yermilov Centre (4, Svoboda Square). Participants: Lesya Kulchynska, Mykola Ridnyi, Nazariy Sovsun, Igor Stokfiszewski, Serhiy Zhadan.
The newest issue of Political Critique is about art as a tool for struggle, social critique and political statement. This issue contains chapters dedicated to the analysis of the Pussy Riot affair, and talks with politically engaged artists conducted by the artistic editor of the magazine Artur Zmijewski. Ukrainian translation of the play Rainbow Sector by Paweł Demirski, as well as a special project – artworks by Ukrainian and Polish artists inspired by the Euro-2012 football championship are also included in Political Critique #4. Some of the authors of the issue: Yevhenia Belorusets, Vasyl Cherepanyn, Keti Chukhrov, Mykyta Kadan, Zhanna Kadyrova, Tomasz Piatek, Oleksiy Radynski, Mykola Ridnyi, Oleksandr Volodarsky, Serhiy Zhadan, Artur Żmijewski.
On November 29th, at 19:00 Paweł Demirski’s Rainbow Sector play reading will take place at the theatre-studio Arabesky (25/5, Hromadyanska Street).
The play Rainbow Sector is the result of a massive mystification prepared by the radical Polish dramatist Pawel Demirski before the Euro-2012 championship. He started a media campaign on behalf of an anonymous group of Polish homosexual football fans for making a special stadium section for the homosexually oriented football fans. This issue had huge feedback in Polish society, becoming the material for the play Rainbow Sector, which appears to be extremely relevant in today’s Ukrainian situation, taking into account the present legislative attacks on the rights of sexual minorities.
After the play reading Igor Stokfiszewski will present his statement on How Theatre Changes Reality?, and a debate moderated by Zurab Alasania will be open.
On November 30th, at 17:30 the discussion on Love and Hatred for the Other will take place at Kharkov City Gallery (15, Chernyshevska Street) with Kateryna Mishchenko (Prostory magazine), Anastasia Riabchuk (Commons magazine), and Nazariy Sovsun (Political Critique magazine). The editors of three Ukrainian intellectual periodicals will talk about the possibility of turning the intolerance into solidarity in the political, social, and cultural fields.
The events take place within the framework of Culture of Transformation project, co-organized by Visual Culture Research Center and Political Critique magazine, supported by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland.
Project partners: Polish Institute in Kyiv, Zhovten Cinema.
Media partners: Art Ukraine, Korydor, Telekrytyka, VideoTeka.