Music boom

“I’m very glad that Krzysztof Penderecki is coming to Košice in the year in which he will be celebrating his 80th birthday. He’s one of the brightest stars in contemporary music. At a time when his work calendar is literally packed with concerts all around the world, it’s literally a miracle that he’ll honour the Košice audience with his visit,” said the Director of the non-profit making organisation Košice 2013 – European Capital of Culture, Ján Sudzina, not hiding his excitement.

As he added, the second dimension is slightly personal. “I like listening to Polish contemporary music – by Krzysztof Penderecki, Henryk Górecki or Witold Lutoslawski. This will also fulfil my personal dream – to see him conduct live in Košice, although I have had the honour of seeing him once in Krakow.”

This year, Košice is enjoying a boom. “What we have achieved within the last decades was performances by composers such as Prokofiev, Bartók and Ysaÿe, which only happened over several years, but now we have several renowned musical personalities in one year. It can be compared to the time when Beethoven and Mozart came to Košice several centuries ago. Apart from the fact that Bent Sorensen has already been here, we will also host Toshio Hosokawa, Krzysztof Penderecki and Michael Jarrel, as well as almost one hundred contemporary composers during the autumn ISCM World New Music Days – the most significant worldwide presentation of contemporary classical music”, said the Director.

He is positive that this year will be written in the city’s history as a year when we had a concentration of excellent and renowned composers. It is almost unbelievable that this has been achieved. “This will certainly be of great significance for the city since composers living in Košice will have the opportunity to be compared with the current stars and have direct contact with them, which accelerates interest in music in Košice. It is an honour to attend such a concert.”

An oasis of freedom in arts

The Artistic Director of the residential ensemble, Barracks/Culture Park Quasars Ensemble, composer and piano virtuoso, Ivan Buffa, considers the arrival of the famous personality as the event of the year: “For me, he is one of the most prominent figures in Polish music, who symbolised an oasis in the freedom of arts to the whole of Europe, mainly via the Warsaw Autumn legendary festival, and was one of the inspirations and a rare opportunity for the whole region to encounter the ‘forbidden fruit’ of the West.”

The Polish composer is coming to St. Elizabeth’s Cathedral on 5th September to present his works personally. He will conduct pieces including Agnus Dei from the “Polish Requiem” (a version for a string orchestra – arr. Boris Pergamenschikow), Viola Concerto (version for the cello – arr. Boris Pergamenschikow), Sinfonietta per archi, Sinfonietta No. 3 (string quartet No. 3 – version for a string orchestra), Serenade for string orchestra, Ciaccona in memoriam John Paul II. for a string orchestra (from the “Polish Requiem”).

To enjoy a live concert from a unique composer, which Krzysztof Penderecki undoubtedly is, is the experience of a lifetime. It will be organised by the European Capital of Culture Košice 2013, which has prepared the concert in cooperation with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.

Tickets are available from TICKETPORTAL: http://www.ticketportal.sk/event.aspx?id=18552

http://www.kosice2013.sk

http://www.iam.pl

http://www.culture.pl

http://www.akademiabeethovenowska.pl

http://www.cellist.nl

The rich musical programme is varied; its aim is to cover multiple musical genres: “We have tried to offer interesting artists from different musical styles, which should please the wider public. We would like everyone to be able to find something they like in our musical programme,” says Daniel Franko, who is the main production manager of the festival. The programme of the festival puts rockers from Prague next to the provocative raging IAMX, the ethereal Iva Bittová with the Čikori group, Czech Hip-Hop legend PSH and more. The Slovak musical scene will be represented by famous artists such as Vidiek, Love 4 Money, as well as less well-known names like Purist, Frequency, From our Hands, Slow Flow, Talkshow. “We want to introduce visitors to the lesser well-known names, whose quality deserves space” explains D. Franko.

Entry is free to the initial Saturday triple-bill concert. It will be started off by the young rock ‘n’ roll group Walter Schnitzelsson, in the evening it will continue with a performance by rapper, Vec. The climax of the first day of the festival will be the concert by the group, Hex. Die-hards will be able to continue to the after-party with DJ Tomáš Hafner, which will take place inside the building.

“It is an interesting event because it attracts attention to the space of the Kasárne Kulturpark. We want people to understand its meaning and importance. It isn’t just a narrowly specialized cultural centre. On the contrary, it is a place for fusion and overlapping with all the levels of the Košice 2013 project. It’s exactly that overlapping that, unlike other festivals, shows what the Kasárne Kulturpark should be like in the future. This makes it a key event for future years. I believe that people will accept our invitation and come and look at this new place in the town and at the cultural program of the festival,” says the director of the Košice 2013 non-profit organization Ján Sudzina. This is one of the reasons why the accompanying program of the festival includes a debate on the Kasárne Kulturpark, its architecture and design, as well as its content and vision and cooperation with other projects, under the auspices of Košice 2013.

Even thought more important than the musical programme is the atmosphere of the festival, J. Sudzina has chosen according to his preferences: “I’m looking forward, more than to the actual event, to the whole atmosphere and the concentration of minds. I’m a connoisseur; I like to choose. I’ll definitely find time for the Quasars Ensemble and Dalibor Karvay and Pražský výběr. I’m curious to see them because it’s the music I listened to when I was young.”

Pražský výběr (Prague Selection) is one of the headliners at the festival. Košice will greet the original line-up led by composer, singer and community activist Michal Kocáb. Pražský výběr, which was banned by the communist regime in the years 1983-1986, returned to publishing albums and playing concerts in the second half of the 80s. After 1989, the group performed minimally, and broke up in 2006. As a new project they have been playing since 2012 and offer not only well-known hits, but also a colourful show full of props and costumes. This is confirmed by the words of bass guitarist Vilém Čok:  “We are looking forward to the concert in Košice. We have always had a good fan-base and if I recall, the last time we played there was eight years ago. Thus we expect “hungry” and excited fans. They can enjoy all the main hits from the career of Pražský výběr and some surprises too.” The Pražský výběr concert will be on 16 August at 19:00.

The organizers of the event have also prepared a rich accompanying programme. Visitors can find dance and musical workshops, a summer readings or rental of picnic blankets. There will also be an eye-catching exhibition by contemporary artists Milan Houser and Adam Szentpétery called Geometric Fields, hosted by artistic director of Košice 2013 Vladimír Beskid: “The exhibition opening will be held on Saturday at 17:00 in the Alfa gallery. The focus of the exhibition will also set the artistic direction for creative dramatics in Kasárne Kulturpark. Even the name itself, Alfa (Alfa is the name of the central building where the gallery is located, note. ed.), points to its focus on contemporary art and the emerging generation of artists”. This current artistic geometric dialogue can be viewed during the days of the festival, from Wednesday to Sunday, from 15:00 to 20:00.

More information about the event and the current programme can be found at www.letovparku.sk

Košice is gaining a new place and new possibilities for properly presenting contemporary visual art as is the standard in the rest of the world. The Kunsthalle/Hall of Art, known to Košice people as the old swimming pool hall, is one of the most architecturally interesting buildings in the town. It stopped functioning as a swimming pool after structural damage caused by the diversion of the River Hornad, an arm of which had flowed close to the building.

One of the investment projects of European Capital of Culture Košice 2013 was to save this monument and create a multi-cultural area. The original architectural layout make it ideal to use for organizing international exhibitions and workshops. The aim of the project was to maintain a connection of the world of culture with that of water both indoors and outdoors to build on its original historical function, but also to have a significant contribution to building the city. Water will be used in the form of dance and performing arts and new media.

“The refurbished Kunsthalle / Hall of Art is primarily an exhibition hall for contemporary visual arts on the international scale. For this year, we have prepared three presentations. The main exhibition is of British sculptor Tony Cragg, working in Wuppertal, a twin city of Košice. Another will be the exhibition of Constantin Brancusi, a classic in the world of modern sculpture, but whom we present as a photographer. The third exhibition is devoted to one of the key figures of the European Capital of Culture 2013 project, Argentinean multimedia artist Gyula Kosice, a native of Košice. He is generally regarded as a co-founder of op-art and hydrokinetics. He is linked to his hometown not only by his artist-name, but also by a work titled Statue for Košice, which will stand in front of the refurbished Kunsthalle / Hall of Art in Košice,” said artistic director of the Košice 2013 non-profit organization, Vladimír Beskid.

In September, Košice will play host to International Triennial of Contemporary Art, which should impact on the wider cultural infrastructure in the city. The main presentation will be at Kunsthalle / Hall of Art, Kulturpark and the East Slovak Museum in Košice. The accompanying events will be at the DIG gallery, Vojtech Löffler Museum and the ŠUV Rotunda exhibition hall. This should be one of the highlights of creative art for this season. During the Triennial in late September there will be a world congress of AICA – art historians and curators. In November there will be an exhibition of contemporary British art after Warhol, British Express, in partnership with the British Council.

“In the upcoming period, we would like to maintain a similar program and the standard we have set as well as the communication in the international environment. Our ambition is to create a strong new cultural point in Central Europe with a preference for contemporary art trends, but also intermedia and multi-genre events, where there will be periodic activities such as Triennial of Art, Days of Sound (Sound City Days), etc. Kunsthalle / Hall of Art is a very unusually laid out space with the possibility of using water directly in the main hall, therefore, it will require specific approaches and exhibition projects specifically designed for this space. The water level falls into one of the main project lines of Košice ECOC 2013 called the Košice elements – water, light, sound and new media. The main carrier of these will be, for the next three to five years, Kunsthalle / Hall of Art,” said V. Beskid, presenting his vision for the coming years.

]]> http://www.kosice2013.sk/en/kosices-hall-of-art-offers-particularly-contemporary-visual-art/feed/ 0 http://www.kosice2013.sk/en/kosice-suburbs-revived-by-culture/ http://www.kosice2013.sk/en/kosice-suburbs-revived-by-culture/#comments Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:02:25 +0000 http://www.kosice2013.sk/?p=8614 Košice residents will have better access to culture once again. With two already functioning cultural exchangers, arts made it to suburbs and housing estates. Early this week, three new exchangers were launched as part of the Košice 2013 and SPOTs projects in Košice to offer cultural, scientific, and sports activities for people of all ages.    

Three former heat exchanger stations were reconstructed recently, then converted into community centres, and launched this Monday by the representatives of Košice city and of Košice – European Capital of Culture 2013 n.o. (non-profit organisation). The exchangers in ĽUdová, Važecká and Wuppertál Streets will belong to a network of community centres, where the SPOTs project team is in charge of their operation and programme. Two renovated buildings, in Brigádnická and Obrody Streets, are already fully functional and public interest in their use is increasing constantly. In summer this year, sixth exchanger will be added, located in Štítová Street.

“We are launching three new suburban cultural centres, through which we can involve our residents in artistic and cultural events. Thus, we provide them an opportunity to spend their free time in a meaningful and cultivated manner. Dance, in-line skating, indoor skating, competitions, film screenings, workshops and various discussion forums are now closer and more accessible to Košice residents than ever before. I would like to thank everyone for their patience during construction work on these cultural centres. I believe that people will utilise these reconstructed heat exchanger stations not only during the extraordinary year 2013 but also later,” said Richard Raši, Mayor of Košice.     

The solemn opening ceremony with a rich cultural program was held on Monday 22^nd April at 18:00 in the exchanger in Važecká Street. During the opening week of the 20^th to 28^th April, visitors could see and experience a skateboard extravaganza (the exchanger in Ľudová Street), learn something new again in the popular science series of extremely popular lectures entitled Scientific Cafeteria, watch films, actively participate in workshops, and contribute their ideas and insights on how to help create further programme and how to proceed during the Open Stage discussion.

“It is the next stage in the life of the SPOTs project team, but also in the life of suburbs, where we will be active every day. These are challenges for future projects together with artists and residents, there are many opportunities to learn something new and meet interesting people. It is like a different wind in the sails. I very much believe that all visitors and residents of housing estates and suburbs will enjoy not only the architectural design of the heat exchanger stations, but mainly the programme that we are preparing for them in the coming months. I hope that variously focused and vibrant groups will form here, and we will be able to plan with them the future programme and interesting art projects not only in 2013, but especially in the future,” revealed the SPOTs project manager Blanka Berkyová about the plans.

The total value of the exchangers reconstruction, carried out by the company PKB invest, s.r.o., is € 1,236,163.76 including VAT. The complex rebuilding of the objects allowed creating multifunctional rooms for cultural and social activities, and facilities for staff and visitors. Also roofs were redesigned to create their functional use, and landscaping and park treatment improved the surroundings. For more information about the individual exchangers and their programe, visit www.vymenniky.sk. Learn more about the SPOTs profect at www.spots.sk.

Pompous opening of the exhibition featured an opera diva with piano accompaniment. At the opening, Richard Raši gave Juraj Jakubisko the Plaque of the Mayor of Košice. “As a token of gratitude and respect from us, all Košice residents, for everything you do for our city as well as for the entire Slovakia,” R. Raši expressed his gratitude. The director considered the award a great honour. “I was already on the other side of life, but when I learnt that Košice is the Capital of Culture, I have returned,” joked the artist about his health.

Personality of ECOC – Košice 2013

European Capital of Culture – Košice 2013 presents the director through the Jakubisko’s Days festival also as a personality of fine arts. The exhibition includes serigraphs, paintings and film posters. “It is not a retrospective, but a cross-section through his work over the recent five years, where we see a dive into magical realism, imaginary world, gardens, beautiful women, relationships, love, but also hate, hypocrisy, dreaming, folk tales, and direct influences from certain films,” said Vladimír Beskid, exhibition curator, about the pictures.

He says he cannot draw

Juraj Jakubisko modestly claims about himself that he cannot draw. “I think my best art are pictures on the canvas of the silver screen,” explains the previous self-criticism. He puts his own film world even into fine arts. Painting is a form of relaxation for him. “Sometimes I sit in the studio, listen to old classical music, and paint,” reveals the director. He has personal relations to every picture at the exhibition. Each work recalls certain memories. With a smile he remembers the situation when he painted his first nude. “I showed it to my father and I got a slap.”

Originally, he wanted to have up to 70 pictures at the exhibition, but there are only 25. “I was told there was not enough room, and now the walls are bare,” complained the artist with a smile. The selection process was difficult for him. Visual gems have waited for several years to be unveiled. “Many of them were just ideas and were not finished artistically.” He says he has mastered the fine-art alphabet, and therefore they could have been exhibited. “I think that the brand of oil paints is not significant. Important is your fantasy,” added Jakubisko.

Magnifying glass and women’s bodies

Surreal paintings at the exhibition include a series of serigraphs. Andy Warhol used a similar technique. “Out of the dark I lift the face, eyes, cheeks, hands, I work with the body, it is amazing,” compared his technique to sculpturing. He says it is like when a sculptor creates an artwork from stone. One of the visitors to the exhibition looked at the pictures with a magnifying glass. He explained he was not looking at the naked female bodies, but was further exploring serigraph.

Vivid Silver to reveal how he lost his virginity

Košice-based photographer A. Jiroušek gave the maestro a photographic view of his native village of Kojšov. Jakubisko is planning to publish soon a book on his birthplace. “I have been a Košice resident since 1945, and I write about the changing city in my book Vivid Silver.” The book should be full of humour. “I describe my attempts to lose virginity, but Košice and Prešov girls were very decent,” revealed the humourous artist. Read the forthcoming book to see what finally happened to him in Prague.              

Jakubisko swallowed by the crowd

The public and the media swarmed around Jakubisko. His natives took pictures with him, asked for autographs, everyone wanted a “piece of Jakubisko”. After many years, the co-creator of Czech and Slovak culture met with old schoolmates. The exhibition opening was attended by Milan Sládek (former schoolmate), who performed that night in St. Elisabeth’s Cathedral. “I am thoroughly shocked to see so many Košice residents here,” said the cinema maestro with a smile. The VojtechLöfflerMuseum holds Jakubisko’s exhibition to 12th April.