Opening: Thursday, January 22, 2009
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Participating artists:
Damijan Kracina, Tanja Lažetić, Polonca Lovšin, Irena
Pivka, Tadej Pogačar, Sašo Sedlaček, son:DA, Tina Smrekar, Miha
Štrukelj, Tomaž Tomažin, Matej Andraž Vogrinčič
Curator: Alenka Gregorić
Co-curator: Tevž Logar
A variety of reasons influences the rationale of an exhibition. An exhibition
often reflects the affinity of the author of the concept, be it an artist or
curator. It is often the result of a current situation, even of a wish to swim
with the current art flow, which constantly changes course and, consequently,
the exhibition programs of institutions. An exhibition can also act as a trigger,
or is the consequence of a reflection, of most of the society and environment
we live in. This exhibition was instigated by the participation of Škuc
Gallery in a two-year project, Land of Human Rights, whose concept stems from
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which it addresses through the prism
of art. The show also logically continues and completes the story begun by Škuc
Gallery within the scope of the Land of Human Rights project with the Article
23 exhibition last year. To avoid representational approaches and the usual
selection of works of art, the exhibition Closed for Annual Leave is 'tediously'
declarative in form. It focuses on the specifics of the local art scene and
seeks to avoid presenting artistic projects on the issue, which usually flirt
with activism. Thus, it does not enable direct contemplation about to works
of art, but invites visitors to think.
The idea or concept of the exhibition is rather simple. Collaborating artists
received a symbolic amount to enable them a day of paid leave, while the gallery
staff took the right to rest and have free time. The doors of the gallery will
remain closed throughout the duration of the exhibition, as the concept is precisely
what is indicated by the title: Closed for annual leave. The gallery will be
closed for three weeks, and not only to the public – the gallery staff
will do only what is absolutely necessary and go on holiday, or at least stay
at home most of the time. The guiding principle of the exhibition is ’Everyone
has the right to rest and leisure, including a reasonable limitation on working
hours and periodic holidays with pay.' The statement is not a figment of the
imagination, or a derogatory remark aimed at an individual or a social group,
but a sentence from Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
of 1948. Today, this can only evoke a bitter grin, as it is absurd in its having
entirely positive intentions, but seems comic or tragic-comic when applied to
real life, because in the case of 'self-employed cultural workers', it is far
from reality (all participating artists have the status of self-employed cultural
workers). The exhibition project is not an appeal to the authorities to change
things, a lament over our destiny, or an attempt to present ideas for resolving
the situation; we have simply taken time off to rest. And, naturally, we do
not fool ourselves that this can change reality.
Closed for annual leave is a statement we were used to when we lived in socialism,
but is unimaginable in the era of capitalism. A gallery is no exception. As
we depend on public funds, which we have to apply for every year, we cultural
workers in the non-government sector are forced to produce too much. Every year
we can easily fall into a trap, as (too) few applications usually mean less
money, and therefore the scope of production exceeds the number of staff of
the institution who can carry out the program well and independently. In this
respect, Closed for annual leave will serve as an 'excuse' for the leisure time
or holidays of the gallery staff – because we cannot afford paid leave
on the burden of the government, because we could not justify this expense to
our backers, which has not been earmarked for self-employed workers in culture,
students and the unemployed. But we can enable a day off to artists. We wanted
to enable a day of paid leave for each of them, and the transferred amount was
paid as royalty for participation in an exhibition which is acceptable according
to the legislation of our backers. It is up to the artists as to how they take
advantage of that day, they can do what they like, as we will not ask for any
reports, which is usually something that cultural workers, recipients of public
funds, waste heaps of time on. After all, Škuc Gallery is closed for annual
leave.
Duration of exhibition:23.1.2009 - 8.2.2009
Address: Galerija Škuc, Stari
trg 21, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Further information: www.galerija.skuc-drustvo.si