Tsjechische kunstenaars beelden Europa uit (en)

CES/09/87

17 June 2009

Contemporary Czech artists and designers get creative with their Europe

Can an art object or a piece of jewellery signify a political vision? How do artists, designers and architects approach Europe? Tracing the borders between politics and contemporary art, a daring EESC-commissioned design exhibition opens on Monday and invites us to find out.

In the context of the Czech Presidency and as part of the European Economic and Social Committee's cultural programme, EESC President Mario Sepi and Ambassador Milena Vicenová, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the EU, will open the contemporary art exhibition 'My Europe – Contemporary Czech Art and Design' on Monday 22 June 2009 at 6.30 p.m. in the EESC headquarters in Brussels.

On the occasion of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation (2009) the EESC, in cooperation with the Czech Centre in Brussels, invited forty Czech artists, designers and architects to create items of art objects that convey their understanding of Europe and how they relate to the European project. The exhibition offers highly creative and innovative interpretations of Europe, and will be displayed in Prague's DOX Centre for Contemporary Art following its EESC inauguration.

"When I was choosing artists for "My Europe"", writes exhibition curator Eva Eisler in her introduction to the catalogue, "my idea was to form a community of strong individuals working in various art disciplines who would tackle a common theme and create a work that differed in form and substance from what they usually did. At the same time, however, it would preserve the artist's signature and convey how he or she looked at Europe. "

Not one of the exhibited works is superficially simple; each demonstrates a multitude of layers in both form and meaning, itself a characteristic aspect of modern art. Through their diversity, the works not only represent the current situation on the contemporary arts scene, but also symbolise the state of play of the European project itself – a still incomplete jigsaw of individual but vital pieces which together are slowly creating a future Europe in unity.

My Europe | Contemporary Czech Art and Design

Curator: Eva Eisler

Opening: 22 June 2009, 6.30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Exhibition: 23 June–31 August 2009

Venue: EESC, 99 rue Belliard | 6th floor

The exhibition is open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 – 5 pm

Welcome: Mario Sepi | EESC President

Opening: Milena Vicenová | Czech Ambassador, Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU

Introduction: Eva Eisler | Curator and Artist

The project is supported by: Czech Centre; Sipral, Hochmann, finnforest and Kooperativa.

For more information please contact:

Antonia Kuehnel

Email: Antonia.Kuehnel@eesc.europa.eu

Tel.: +32 2 546 8678