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EASTERN SUGAR is an international, interdisciplinary
visual arts project with a particular focus on artistic research. Using
the case of the sugar industry in Central Europe, the project reflects
recent aspects of European history.
With the sugar industry in Slovakia as a starting point, case study and
metaphor, EASTERN SUGAR provides an opportunity for discussion and critical
reflection on the impact of the economies of socialism and neoliberalism
in the countries of Central Europe and beyond. The inspiration for this
project can be found in the work of the artist Ilona Németh, who
lives near Bratislava. She has been observing the developments in the
Slovakian sugar industry and especially the decline of the Dunajská
Streda factory in her works. Now, this artistic research is to be expanded
on an international level.
After the project officially started with a kick-off meeting in Budapest
in November 2019, a lot of research, travel and preparation work will
follow in the coming months. Over the next two years artist residencies,
exhibitions and discursive events are planned in Bourges, Bratislava,
Budapest, Freising, Graz and Prague—with the aim of presenting the
economic, political, historical, neo-colonial and cultural contexts of
the product sugar from the perspective of visual artists.
www.easternsugar.eu
Ilona Németh in collaboration with Olja Triaška Stefanovic:
One of the shut down sugar factories in Slovakia. From the series >>Archive<<,
2017 – 2018, courtesy of the artist.
Ilona Németh in in collaboration with Cukru production:
Video still from an interview with Dušan Janícek – Director
of External Relations Slovenské cukrovary, s.r.o. Sered’,
AGRANA Group, 2017
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The project EASTERN SUGAR is realized
by the Slovak National Gallery in cooperation with Kunsthalle
Bratislava and partners:
< rotor > Center for contemporary art, Graz
Centre for Contemporary Art FUTURA, Prag
Schafhof – European Center for Art Upper Bavaria, Freising
La Box – gallery of the École nationale supérieure d’art
de Bourges
T-TUDOK Inc., Centre for Knowledge Management and Educational
Research, Budapest
The project is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European
Union.
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