Artists: Filippo Berta (Włochy), Florenty/Türkowsky (Francja/Niemcy), Marco Godoy (Hiszpania), Klara Hobza (Czechy), Lukas Hofer (Niemcy), Fancis Hunger (Niemcy), Cécile Ibarra (Francja), Karska/Went (Polska), Adi Matei (Rumunia), Eleonore de Montesquion (Francja/Estonia), Antonio R. Montesinos (Hiszpania), Ciprian Muresan (Rumunia), Dorota Nieznalska (Polska), Virgile Novarina (Francja), Öffler/Larsen/Cerclin (Niemcy/Holandia), Fabian Reimann (Niemcy), Patricia Reis (Portugalia), Max Schaffer (Niemcy), Pablo Serret de Ena (Hiszpania), Andrzej Wasilewski (Polska), Krzysztof Wróblewski (Polska)
Opening: 16.01.2015, godzina 19:30 | 4G
Exhibition: 17.01 – 01.03.2015
Curator: Susanne Hinrichs
Place:
Gdańska Galeria Güntera Grassa, ul. Szeroka 34/35, 36, 37
Gdańska Galeria Miejska, ul. Piwna 27/29
Gdańska Galeria Miejska 2 (GGM2), ul. Powroźnicza 13/15
“Europe is not a place, but rather an idea” (Bernard-Henri Lévy)
Identity is a quality that refers to a singular individual or a group of individuals with similar characteristics. Whereas the individual subject is isolated from other subjects by the means of their specific singularity, group cohesion creates loyalty and solidarity between its members, although one of the possible outcomes of this may be their differentiation from other communities.
If Europe doesn’t exist as a place, as put forward by Bernard-Henri Lévy, then what is that makes European identity so precious? Can Europe be based solely upon its political, socio-economic, and cultural similarities? Is it enough to have an agreed corporate blue print held as a flag and anthem, the free movement of goods, a common E.U. citizenship, a common currency and a shared space of freedom, security and justice to create a European identity? Indeed, due to the last few years of economic difficulties, it seems essential to strengthen this internal bond in order to construct an entity with which European citizens can identify themselves with despite any differences they may have.
Despite their closeness in proximity and comparable characteristics, the integral elements of Europe differ in language, tradition, history and culture. How much individuality, and alongside it, identity remains in a country and its inhabitants when being part of a greater whole? Can Europe only be created out of a renunciation of one’s self, or perhaps the consciousness of European member states will be able to retain its personal character in spite of it all.
The project WHO MAKES EUROPE/QUIÉN HACE EUROPA specifically raises this question. The show is the results of the work of seven artists that have created works specifically related to the context of living together in Madrid and a selection of works from young artists from numerous other European countries. In this exhibition, Matadero Madrid and German curator Susanne Hinrichs reflect on Europe and its identity through contemporary art.
