The aim of Cultural Territories is to stimulate the collaboration between institutions, curators and artists from East, Northeast and Southeast Europe. Those participating in the project reflect on the variety of “cultural territories” in the geographical space, their layers and interaction. From the point of view of artists and curators a dialogue on the symptomatic cliches and new perceptions of Eastern Europe takes place.

"When people refer to Eastern Europe today, they primerily mean those countries which formerly belonged to the "Estern Block". This territory, however, is imaginary. It exists neither geographically - one would have to differentiate at least between central, east, north, and southeast Europe - nor as a distinct unit which can be defined and demarcated by bounderies. This generic term "Eastern Europe" not only fails to express
the differences - which naturally exist - within this imaginary territory, but also the influence of a global economy, migration, and globally-circulating media images.

Embedded within the framework of "Cultural Territories" is the question of what role culture and art play in connection with the social transformation processes in central, east, north and aoutheast Europe. The plural form suggests from the very beginning that there is not just one particular cultural territory, but many which overlap, examine one other, and put each other into perspective. Artists and curators are investigating a field in which both symptomatic stereotypes and new (emancipated) ideas are emerging: the field of representation. The project poses the question to what extent culture can liberate itself from national agendas." (Barbara Steiner)

"Is there anything else you would like?"

"Is there anything else you would like?" is an exhibition which explores the set of economic relationships in consumer societies, in particular those of the new democracies of Estern Europe. One of the motive forces of consumerism are our desires - or rather "evoking desires". How do members of societies whose living standarts are not particularly high deal with the constantly growing desire to buy and possess? What kind of strategies do they develop to bridge teh gap between real possibilities and wishes?" (Elina Koralova)

June 21 2004, 18:00
Goethe-Institut Sofia, Budapest Str. 1.

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