A premiere screening of Artur Żmijewski’s November 11  film series on Friday, December 28th, 19.30 at Visual Culture Research Center (Zhovten Cinema, “Classic” hall, 26, Kostyantynivska St.).

Every year Artur Żmijewski films street manifestations in Warsaw on Independence Day, the 11th of November. In recent years this celebration in Warsaw was marked by radical right marches leading to mass riots, clashes with the police, hate campaigns in the media, as well as big anti-fascist counter-actions. In his series of films, Żmijewski traces the evolution of the street confrontation for the last four years: radical nationalists’ march in 2009; attempts of blocking the far right march in 2010 and 2011; many thousand strong March of Independence on November 11, 2012 ending up with the foundation of the radical right “National Movement”, which defined its goal as to “overthrow the republic” in Poland.

November 11 series of films makes an ending to Artur Żmijewski’s long-term project Democracies exposed at the exhibition of the same name in Kyiv at the VCRC in October 2012. Democracies project consists of nearly 30 nonfiction films documenting political events and actions all around the globe. In December 2012 Żmijewski announced the end of his work on the project.

Artur Żmijewski – director, curator, writer. He participated in 51. Venice Biennale (2005), Manifesta (2004) and Documenta (2007). In 2012, he curated the 7. Berlin Biennale. In his films Zmijewski studies the current social antagonisms, problems of political representation and collective imaginaries. Zmijewski is an artistic editor of Political Critique magazine.

Program of screening:

National Radical Camp March (2009)

The Ghosts March (2010)

The Rainbow Independent (2011)

Independence March (2012)

28.12.2012, 19.30, Zhovten Cinema, “Classic” hall, 26, Kostyantynivska St.

This screening takes place within Culture of Transformation project, supported by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland.

Project partners:

Zhovten Cinema, Polish Institute in Kyiv

Media partners:

ARTUkraine, Korydor, TeleKrytyka, VideoTeKa

December 7^th, 2012, 20:00   Muscut and Visual Culture Research Center present experimental electronic music concert at “the plate”.  Participants: I/Dex, Andrey Kiritchenko, Petrov, Nikolaienko.

The concert hall of the Institute for Scientific-Technical and Economic Information (“the plate” near Lybidska metro station) was built in 1971 by a famous architect-inventor, composer, musician, scientist, physicist Florian Yuriev. His innovative solution of placing a ferroconcrete lens with a metal dome in the base of “the plate” helped to create a room with almost perfect acoustics. Yuriev’s plan was to locate a spherical lecture and cinema hall there, and a light-and-music theatre.

“The plate” is one of the most peculiar Soviet Modernism’s “second wave” buildings, created between 1961 and 1991. Despite the constantly growing international interest for the architectural heritage of the 1960 – 1990s, the building has not yet been assigned an official status of a monument, which puts its existence under a threat.

Experimental music concert at “the plate” is not only a chance to test the unique acoustic designing of the 1970s, but also an attempt to transform “the plate” from a half-ruined facility which is only known among few groups into a popular cultural location.

Live:
I/Dex (Minsk)
http://unsound.pl/en/festival/program/artists/2011/show/385

Andrey Kiritchenko (Kharkiv)
http://www.nexsound.org/wp/akir/

Petrov
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Alexey+Petrov

Nikolaienko
http://muscut.org/nikolaienko

Contribution: 40 UAH

http://www.last.fm/event/3445877+I-Dex+(Live)

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/440408746007143/

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 28^th, 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 29^th, 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 30^th, 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.

Lecture by Denys Pilash

November 15th, 2012, Thursday, 18:00

These days the student movement is rising all over the world. But far not in every country has it reached such a scale as in Chile and Canadian province Quebec, where it has become one of the main factors of social life. What was the reason for student protest activities? What did they manage to achieve, and what still has not changed? What can Ukrainian libertarian student movement learn from these events? And, finally, who is cooler – Camila Vallejo, or Anarchopanda?

Denys Pilash – PhD student at National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv, “Direct Action” and “Left Opposition” activist.

Within the framework of Education Week and Global Education Strike

6 listopada, wtorek, 19:00, Krytyka Polityczna, ul. Foksal 16, p. II, Warszawa

W wyborach parlamentarnych na Ukrainie, które odbyły się 28 października, zwyciężyła, a do tego umocniła swoją pozycję, rządząca Partia Regionów. Także bardzo dobre rezultaty zanotowały uważana za skończoną Komunistyczna Partia Ukrainy i jedno z nowych oblicz opozycji – nacjonalistyczna „Swoboda”. Razem te partie zebrały niemal 25 procent głosów ukraińskich wyborców. Trzecią partią, która wdarła się na scenę polityczną jest Ukraiński Demokratyczny Alians na rzecz Reform znanego boksera Witalija Kliczki. To o tej partii najwięcej mówiono w kategoriach „europejskiej normalności”. Jednak, czy „UDAR” nie okaże się kolejną płonną nadzieją wierzących w unijną przyszłość Ukrainy? Co mówią wyniki nacjonalistów i komunistów o ukraińskim społeczeństwie i jak na nie wpłyną?

Na te pytania postarają się odpowiedzieć zaproszeni goście: Piotr Andrusieczko (Ukrajinśkyj Żurnał), Bogumiła Berdychowska (Forum Polsko-Ukraińskie), Wasyl Czerepanyn (Centrum Badań nad Kulturą Wizualną w Kijowie, Krytyka Polityczna), Ołeksij Radynski (Centrum Badań nad Kulturą Wizualną w Kijowie, Krytyka Polityczna). Spotkanie moderować będzie Paweł Pieniążek (Krytyka Polityczna).

Political mathematics class book

Presentation of Problem Book, made by architects, sociologists and artists

On Sunday, November 4^th, at 17:00, presentation of an interdisciplinary publication Problem Book will be held at Visual Culture Research Center (26, Kostyantynivska St., Zhovten Cinema). The authors propose us to have a different view on mathematics, and show its connection with social processes. The authors of the book, artist Anastasia Ryabova and architect Oleksandr Burlaka, together with Independent Student Union Direct Action activist Roksolana Mashkova, will participate in the presentation, moderated by sociologist Anastasia Riabchuk.

According to its authors, Problem Book helps to display the social and political contradictions around us. The story base for these mathematical tasks is in social, political and economic problems of contemporary cities. A text by the theorist Tzuchien Tho “The Difficult Truth about Mathematics”, devoted to the philosophical problem of political mathematics and its emancipatory potential, is also published in the book. The Problem Book project is aimed for experimental work with the book at social studies school classes.

Architects, sociologists and artists were involved in creating the Problem Book: Ivan Brazhkin, Oleksandr Burlaka, Dmytro Vorobyov, Anastasiya Ryabova, Maksym Spivakov, Tzuchien Tho, Vladyslav Shapovalov. The book was published within The Way of Enthusiasts exhibition (parallel project of the 13^th International Architecture Biennale in Venice).

The Problem Book is available online in Russian, English and Italian: http://www.supostat.org/1/zadachnik#more-663

In addition, we would like to remind you that from October 26^th to November 18^th, 2012 the exhibition Responsible for Circulation by Oleksandr Burlaka, Anastasiya Ryabova and Maksym Spivakov is taking place at the Visual Culture Research Center. The exhibition is dedicated to the visual accompaniment of the election procedure, the intervention of the election campaign into the urban space and the illusion of political action.

Contact person: Oksana Bryukhovetska, 093 460 68 81

On Saturday, November 3, at 19:00 a concert of Kwartludium band (Poland) will take place at National Union of Composers (Pushkinska Str., 32). The performance is part of “Culture of Transformation” project, co-organized by Visual Culture Research Center and Political Critique magazine.

The band Kwartludium emerged in 2002 and consists of Dagna Sadkowska (violin), Michał Górczyński (clarinet), Paweł Nowicki (percussion) and Piotr Nowicki (piano). Kwartludium is known for its improvised and atonal music performance. The group focuses on performing works by young composers, as well as better known composers including Stockhausen, Bergstroem-Nielsen, Cardew, Stark, Wolf, Rasmusen and Detoni.

Programme of Kwartludium concert in Kyiv

Wojciech Blecharz – Torpor

Jagoda Szmytka – Sky-me_type-me

Wojciech Ziemowit Zych – Ever-present Longing

Sławomir Wojciechowski – Rope of Sands

Music interpretations of visual artworks will also be presented at the concert:

Pola Dwurnik – Object

Adam X –  Elements of the Octopus Style

Rafał Bujnowski – Kosmos

Twożywo – Fear That Weaves Structures

Anna Okrasko – Column # 10

Karol Radziszewski – No Name

Adam Witkowski – The Truth Has No Guidelines

After the concert a discussion will be open with the members of Kwartludium band, the composer Sławomir Wojciechowski and music critic Monika Pasiecznik. Moderator: music curator Wojtek Zralek-Kossakowski.

National Union of Composers: 32, Pushkinska Str.

The concert takes 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.

http://www.kwartludium.com

October 26, Friday, 19:00 – Visual Culture Research Center presents the exhibition In Charge of the Edition by Olexander Burlaka, Anastasia Ryabova and Maxim Spivakov. The project is dedicated to the visual accompaniment of the election procedure, the intervention of the election campaign into the urban space which transforms the cognitive landscape and creates the illusion of political action.

The campaign transforms the city into the space of the obtrusive self-representation of the agents of political competition. Leading up their visual presence to the point of absurdity, a palette of candidates simulates the variety of choice as the election itself simulates a possibility to choose. According to the Law of Ukraine “On Elections of People’s Deputies”, a citizen has the right to exercise free choice of political preferences without the influence of propaganda only on the day of silence. Through photography, video and installation the artists offer to rethink such illusory possibility.

In Charge of the Edition is the third show in the Unrendered Spaces ongoing exhibition project, which includes a series of expositions dedicated to the strategies of perception of environment inside and outside the city, the possibilities of its exploration by the means of art. Concentrated on the points of perceptive conflict, multiple interpretations of the living space, the project aims at playing out the political, social, aesthetic zones of tension by redefining it.

The exhibition is open until November 18, Tuesday – Sunday, from 17:00 to 21:00

October 22, 2012, 20:00

Zhovten Cinema, «Anshlag» hall (26, Kostyantynivska Str.)

On Monday, October 22^th at 20 p.m. the screening of It Looks Pretty From a Distance by Anka Sasnal and Wilhelm Sasnal will take place within the program of Molodist International Film Festival. There will be a discussion with the authors and film theorists Lesya Kulchinska (Visual Culture Research Center, Kyiv) Jakub Majmurek (Krytyka Polityczna, Warsaw).

The action takes place in a secluded Polish village near the woods and a river. It is here, where a love story between a scrapper and a girl unfolds. In an air of ubiquitous secrecy, the villagers and the couple live their everyday dull lives of hardship until the scrapper vanishes. His disappearance triggers a chain of unexpected events. In strikingly beautiful surroundings, under a scorching sun, human evil surfaces.

Wilhelm Sasnal is one of the most renowned contemporary Polish artists. His pieces are in the collections of Tate Modern, MOMA, Centre Pompidou and many other museums. He collaborates with Foksal Gallery foundation and Political Critique (Krytyka Polityczna).

The screening has been organized within the framework of the 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.

National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, 1^st building, auditorium 217 (2, Skovorody St.)

October 19^th, 18:00

Participants: Volodymyr Vorotniov, Nikita Kadan, Nazariy Sovsun, Vasyl Cherepanyn

Political Critique #4: СВБД ПСРТ

The fourth issue is dedicated to art as a tool for the transformation of social reality. The opening chapter contains the Political Critique survey with Russian artists, theoreticians and activists about the societal effect of Pussy Riot group actions and the imprisonment of its members. The visual chapter consists of works by Ukrainian and Polish critical artists, who analyze the event of Europe football championship in Ukraine and Poland by means of art. The chapter “Forget Fear” presents a selection of talks with contemporary artists and activists made by Artur Żmijewski during the period of his preparation of the 7th Berlin Biennale in 2012.

Some of the authors of the issue: Pavel Arsenyev, Yael Bartana, Yevgenia Belorusets, Ilya Budraitskis, Oleksandr Burlaka, Anatoly Belov, Joanna Warsza, Aleksandr Volodarsky, Volodymyr Vorotniov, Paweł Demirski, Ekaterina Degot, Galit Eilat, Serhiy Zhadan, Artur Żmijewski, Anna Zvyagintseva, Aleksandr Ivanov, Mykyta Kadan, Zhanna Kadyrova, Marcin Kalinski, Jaś Kapela, Lesia Kulchinska, Renzo Martens, Ivan Melnychuk, Antanas Mockus, Olha Papash, Rafael Pishobomb, Thomas Piatek, Konrad Pustola, Oleksiy Radynski, Mykola Ridny, Yevhen Samborsky, John Iveson Silva, Nazariy Sovsun, Igor Stokfiszewski, Monika Strzepka, Vlad Tupikin, Noah Fisher, Sergio Franco, Vasyl Cherepanyn, Keti Chukhrov, Árpád Schilling, Timea Junghaus.