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SOMETHING
& SOMETHING NEW - parallels, differences, trends
Discussion on the development of art and art scene in Liverpool and
Cologne with artists and art educators from both cities
Like all areas of culture, including the field of art in its social
(loading) interpretation in the past twenty years experienced a tremendous
change. Both in the creation and in the perception of works of art
no longer apply and the claims experience of the past, but the art
still had the inexhaustible power for meaning, for the provocation
and rebellion. As she sat on the podium of traditional education or
with the ideas of the avant-garde of this very podium, and was dragged
down into the realm of new, hitherto unimagined out of life and thinking
perspectives. The freedom of art has in recent decades led everywhere
in western culture to similar forms of creative self-evident of all
possibilities. And so, however. Also to an equally obvious arbitrariness
in connection of unfettered consumption and experience culture Amidst
this general change of art in times of globalization and an all-pervasive
media entertainment, but there are still different forms and ways
of dealing with the arts in different regions and cities in Europe,
depending on cultural traditions, societal trends and local characteristics.
Especially the example of Liverpool and Cologne, the similarities
and differences in relation to the development of art and the local
art scene are clearly visible. The exhibition of works by the Liverpool
and Cologne artists, the 28th of September to 21 October 2012 under
the theme "Happiness is a warm gun" in the cultural work
of BBK Köln eV takes place, occasion, and context is to discuss
this issue.
While in Liverpool twenty years ago was not a single commercial gallery
and also no free spaces of art, the art has since become a not insignificant
factor in urban development. The art has emerged as a visible cultural
element of the shadow of football and music culture. In addition to
the traditional art from centuries past and the art as a medium for
social work and education is the free modern art, not least through
the establishment of a large museum in a disused port building in
Albert Dock - at the center - as a branch of the Tate Gallery in London
Once social perception. Meanwhile, there are several studio houses
and some galleries. The free Bluecoat Arts Centre, which is in a central
downtown location already emerged in the 1920s in a historic orphanage
was expanded elaborately in his exhibition and studio capacity. In
addition, there is an extensive range of art with new media in the
media center and a FACT Biennale, under which the whole city is a
biennial art venue for. Young artists from Liverpool are drawn to
this situation is no longer on inevitably to London.
Cologne had to take on the other hand in the last twenty years by
the idea goodbye, to be the artistic center of the world or at least
Europe. Not even over Germany this status yet, though Cologne on one
of the highest artistic landscapes world has. However, the training
center for artists in the traditional fine arts in favor of an art
school was closed for New Media, so that no longer obvious artistic
attract young talent in the fields of painting and sculpture to Cologne.
In addition, many artists immigrated in recent years for Berlin. After
decades greatest artistic vitality Cologne came in the last two decades
in a kind of creative break and warm artistic comfort. It remained
oriented towards large-scale projects in showrooms from institutional
as well as innovative and invigorating movements in the so-called
base. Rather, a high artistic standard, much routine, solid proven
forms of art and the importance of art as a social ritual events determine
the city's art scene. Unlike 25 years ago Art is not a factor in social
unrest, and the stimulation more, but instead is an integral part
of the socio-cultural life. With its great museums of old, modern
and contemporary art, the more than one hundred galleries, numerous
studio houses, its many free exhibition spaces and always emerging
private art initiatives Art is an established factor in the cultural
life of the city in Cologne noted at a high level. Nevertheless appear
the strength and relevance of the arts to have declined in the cultural
ensemble almost imperceptibly. While influencing events from the past
to the myth of art in Cologne, is missing in the current events in
spite of the varied activities and creative momentum bite.
Is this loss of relevance of art is a general phenomenon that is taking
place throughout the Western culture, or is it a specific development
in Cologne identify? And the art euphoria in Liverpool is just the
situation arising out of a Liverpool brief phenomenon? How important
was the international art center in Cologne for artists and cultural
workers of Liverpool 20 years ago? And what significance Cologne today
for her? What role does the view of a city like Liverpool to Cologne
artists? A discussion with artists and art educators from Liverpool
and Cologne to address these issues. This occurs on a background of
more than twenty years of continuous exchange between artists from
both cities. In particular, should the Liverpool Cologne initiative
"Eight Days A Week" will serve as an example for the development
of contemporary art in both cities. Thus, of the free culture initiative
in close collaboration with the Liverpool Bluecoat Arts Centre in
the past 15 years made more than a hundred exhibitions and other events
on its feet.
Cultural work of BBK Cologne e.V.
Frankenwerft 35/Stapelhaus,
50667 Cologne, Tel: 0221-2582113
30th September 2012, 16 clock
