Artur Żmijewski, Repetition, 2005, installation view, collection Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven. Photo: Peter Cox

Basis voor Actuele Kunst - BAK Lange Nieuwstraat 4 3512 Utrecht Netherlands (city map) Send E-mail tel +31 (0)30 - 231 61 25 www.bak-utrecht.nl

Artur Żmijewski
The Social Studio

28.09.-16.11.2008

BAK, basis voor actuele kunst presents the solo exhibition Artur Żmijewski: The Social Studio by Polish artist Artur Żmijewski from 28 September until 16 November 2008. The opening takes place on Saturday 27 September 2008 at 20.00 hrs at BAK, Lange Nieuwstraat 4, Utrecht.

The exhibition by Artur Żmijewski (born 1966, Warsaw, lives and works in Warsaw) presents a selection of recent works including videos Them (2007) and Repetition (2005) that could be described as "social studios," social experiments of sorts documented on film in a provocative and openly confrontational way.

Żmijewski believes that in order for art to regain its value in society, it has to expose societal conflict and disclose the conditions in which social antagonisms are cultivated and maintained by the powers that be. Convinced that the hard-won autonomy of art-in which art is considered independent from the "real" world-has actually disempowered it from acting as an accountable public voice, Żmijewski insistently requires of art that it take responsibility and engage in a dialogue with the current social and political reality around us. In this way, art can contribute to shaping that reality by imagining the world otherwise than we know it.

The architectural concept for the exhibition is developed by artist Josef Dabernig.

With thanks to Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven and Foksal Gallery Foundation, Warsaw.

A half-day seminar entitled Experimental Repetitions: The Art of Re-enactment with presentations, screenings, and discussions with artists and theorists Rod Dickinson, Michael Uwemedimo, and Steve Rushton takes place on Thursday 13 November 2008. Participation is limited; for more information see: www.bak-utrecht.nl.

BAK, basis voor actuele kunst, Lange Nieuwstraat 4, Utrecht

Opening hours:
Wednesday-Saturday 12.00-18.00 hrs
Sunday 13.00-18.00 hrs

Entrance fee: € 4,00
Discount (students, seniors, groups min. 10, children < 12): € 2,00
BOOKS@BAK members: free

For further information, please contact: t: +31 30 2316125, e: info@bak-utrecht.nl, or see www.bak-utrecht.nl.