Bratislava Art festival – BLAF is a one-week festival of visual arts, offering visitors a chance to experience, understand, perceive and discuss art. The festival is also a platform for active cooperation and networking of public and private galleries, as well as for presentations of the already-established formats in the area of contemporary art.
Foundation–Centre Of Contemporary Art and the Clockwise production agency, in cooperation with the Slovak National Gallery (SNG), organise the third year of BLAF – the Bratislava Art Festival.
BLAF 2012 will continue in the spirit of its previous two instalments. Apart from the possibility to embark on a 4-day ‘tour’ of over 20 participating galleries, which again offer inspiring and rich programme, organisers of the favourite autumn happening have also prepared an interesting set of accompanying events in a partnership cooperation with independent initiatives.
The festival’s goal is the same as before – to bring the Slovak art scene closer to the general public in an attractive and spontaneous way, while also supporting the community character of Bratislava’s arts scene and its relationship with the general and professional public.
ACCOMPANYING EVENTS
4SEM
International Symposium Of Fine Arts
October 4 – 7, 2012, 10:00 – 17:00
The Erna Masarovičová Atelier
Gorazdova 31, 811 04 Bratislava
The SEM International Symposium Of Fine Arts is a creative interdisciplinary meeting of artists from various fields of visual art – sculptors, jewellers, textile artists, etc. The project takes place in the authentic premises of the house and atelier of Erna Masarovičová, the Slovak sculptor, jeweller and medal-maker, in order to commemorate her lifelong work. During the BLAF festival, works created not only within the current EM symposium will be presented in the interior of her house, as well as in the exterior of the adjacent garden.
How To Approach Art?
lectures
THU, October 4, 2012 at 19:00
Slovak Union of Visual Arts, Dostojevského rad č. 2
A lecture by Andrea Jungmann – prominent expert working for the Sotheby’s – which will be devoted to the latest trends and tendencies of art trade, as well as to general characteristics of this phenomenon and its development. It will also focus on trading with the works of the most contemporary, still living artists. The lecture will shed light on the motivation behind purchasing a work of art, advantages of investing in art, and the most current tendencies of the art trade, as well as the art business as such. Since her work experience is relevant for the entire European region, Jungmann’s knowledge can represent a valuable contribution to expanding the awareness of the domestic arts scene with regard to what in fact the art trade is, and how it functions in contemporary Europe. Potentially, the lecture might also reveal what we are doing wrong when art does not sell in our country…
Andrea Jungmann has worked for Sotheby’s since 1989. In 2001, she assumed the position of Managing Director for Sotheby’s Austria and Hungary, and in 2004 became the Senior Director of Sotheby’s in London. Jungmann closely cooperates with departments managing impressionist, modern and contemporary art in London and New York. She has played a key role in the sales of works by Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt (Kirche in Cassone – Sotheby’s London, February 2010, at GBP 26.9 million – setting a new auction record for the sale of a Klimt work). Towards the end of 2011, she led the auction of Klimt’s work entitled Litzlberg am Attersee, which was sold for USD 40.4 million, thus becoming the author’s second most expensively sold landscape. Andrea Jungmann studied history of art and cultural management; she lives and works in Vienna.
Batelier meets BLAF 2012
October 6, 11:00 – 04:00
October 7, 13:00 – 18:00
Batelier, Továrenská 14
SAT, October 6, 11:00 – 16:00 Street Art Workshop with Garnard and Filip Sabol
A fine-art workshop focusing on the contemporary visual trends of street art. Lectors from Slovakia’s street art and graffiti scene will work in creative workshops with people of all ages, including children.
Free Entrance
SAT, October 6, 19:00 – 21:00 WORKandTROUBLE – premiere of a drama performance
Launch of a new drama stage with a premiere of the WORKandTROUBLE play. In a fresh and joyous way, this drama project reflects on the current situation of Slovaks migrating abroad.
Entrance Fee: € 5
SAT, October 6, 21:00- 04:00 Zdiery Sounds
Visual artists Ivan Herényi (a.k.a. iwan/zdiery corp.) and Pavol Čejka (a.k.a. reverend/zdiery corp., kefir/jah division) will guide you through their varied selection of music offering.
Free Entrance
SUN, October 7, 13:00 – 18:00 Sunday Stickers
Sticker as a visual object. A workshop designed for all age categories focusing on the creation, editing and use of stickers as a specific form of street art.
Free Entrance
Blaf Market
October 6, 2012, 11:00 – 20:00
October 7, 2012, 10:00 – 18:00
SNG Summer Pavilion, Rázusovo nábrežie 2, Bratislava
This year will present 25 original brands not only from Slovakia. Handcrafted items, unique, scented, fresh – precisely what you are looking for.
Blaf Market Workshops
SUN, October 7, 12:00 – 18:00 Recy-bracelet by Ellena – come and replenish your outfit with a self-made and unusual piece of clothing made with a recycling method.
SUN, October 7, 12:00 – 16:00 Instant Photography – POLYMORFdesign shop and INSTANT SHOP will present creative techniques of processing Polaroid photography. The workshop is divided into 4 groups of a maximum of 6 participants. Please register at: info@instantshop.sk and choose from the available time slots: 12:00 – 13:00 / 13:00 – 14:00 / 14:00 –15:00 / 15:00 – 16:00.
More information: www.urbanmarket.sk
Gallery Wine Route
October 6, 2012 at 16:00 – 20:00
Photoportgallery, Pražská 11 / in the courtyard
K R O K U S Gallery, Námestie 1. mája 3
SPACE Gallery, Velehradská 7/A
Tasting of Slovak and foreign wines during presentations of current exhibitions directly in the Photoport, Krokus and SPACE galleries.
KINEČKO blafuje
October 4 and October 7, 2012 at 20:30
SNG Amphitheatre, Riečna 1, Bratislava
(in case of adverse weather conditions – SNG cinema)
October 4, at 20:30
Fest Anča is an international festival of animation films. This year’s Anča Awards have already been awarded, and you will learn who the winners are. You will see the winning Polish film Sleepingcord (Snępowina) by Marta Pajek, the Belgian film Oh Willy, and the Estonian film Big House (Suur maja). You can also see the winner of the Anča Student Award Of Rice Of Armenia (De riz ou d’Armenie), and the Swiss student film BAKA!!. Of course, you will see the video entitled Mound by filmmaker Allison Schulnik from USA, which won the Anča Music Award.
October 7, at 20:30
An Attempt (At Searching For Spirituality) / dir.: Blaho Uhlár, SR 2012
This work by Blaho Uhlár, which was awarded the Gran Prix at the New Drama 2012 festival, verges on the border of documentary and theatre.
Fashion: Inspiration For Success
October 6, starting from 17:00
VŠVU, Hviezdoslavovo nám. 8, room no. 135
Lectures and discussions on the topic of Fashion Business with domestic and international guests, together with the Absolventimódy 2012 exhibition by the Department Of Textile at the Academy Of Fine Arts in Bratislava.
17:00 J‘Adore Eva – discovery of a fashion designer – A project by Linda van Dalen, revealing unique fashion drawings from a designer active during 1950s in Prague and Budapest. It can also be interpreted as an appeal to search for unknown roots and heritage in Slovakia’s fashion industry.
18:00 NOT JUST A LABEL – A Seminar on Creative Entrepreneurship – Stefan Siegel, founder of the successful Internet fashion platform NOT JUS A LABEL(NJAL), will present the concept, the story behind its success, as well as the troubles related to fashion industry. Siegel will reveal key information about how to establish and maintain your own fashion brand. (in English)
19:00 Discussion about the specifics of Slovakia’s fashion business – An informal discussion about the positives, troubles and specifics of our fashion business, which will present the key topics and search for solutions to problems of designers and people in the background of fashion brands.
Nu Spirit Club
October 3 – 6, 2012
from 20:00
Šafárikovo nám. 7
WED, October 3 XXYYXX & Giraffage (live/USA), DJs Superskank & Nowhere Man
THU, October 4 Bratislava Art Festival
DJ Vuk Dedier (Sexy Deutsch/Vienna/AT), DJs Siba & Dzunyja aka Junior
FRI, October 5 Make Some Noiz!
EmonoizBoyz DJs
SAT, October 6 W: Club
The Suicide of Western Culture (ESP)
OPENING CONCERT
October 5, 2012 at 18:15
Courtyard of the Slovak National Gallery
Come and be entertained in the unusual setting of SNG’s courtyard during a concert of Slovak bands Via Bona All Star Band, Billy Barman, All Stars Open Band and Chiki liki – tua. You can expect a pleasant atmosphere, great food and drinks.
Free Entrance
Weekend With Art
October 6, 2012, 11:00 – 20:00
October 7, 2012, 10:00 – 18:00
Slovak National Gallery
Come and visit SNG’s Summer Pavilion during the first October weekend. Produced by Čerstvé ovocie (Fresh Fruits), the Blaf Market will be turned into the festival’s live meeting point. BLAF stand, contemporary design, hand made products, books, music. This year’s BLAF will again be devoted to families with children! There are many interactive educational activities and workshops waiting for you.
Xth CLUBOVKA (CLUB PARTY)
October 4, 2012 at 18:00
Xth CLUBOVKA PO:CITY, s.r.o.
SOGA Gallery, Panská 21
Good coffee, good design, good architecture, good people, good evening…
The aim of CLUBOVKA is to present distinctive contemporary world architects and designers – people living their rich lives in an absolute and permanent creative storm, desire and passion…
CLUBOVKA is an environment free of ‘ISMS’ and professional critique; first and foremost, it is about the human being, its work and dreams, ideas, motivation, about everything that is not visible at first sight, about a thought…
Since 2002, CLUBOVKA has presented over 80 personages from the fields of architecture, design and art in the towns of Prešov, Košice, Bratislava and Prague.
Guest – ROSSANA ORLANDI, gallerist, Milan
In 2002, Rossana Orlandi transformed a former factory in Milan into the most exclusive design destination in international rendition. Ever since its establishment, the Spazio Rossana Orlandi has been presenting promising young designers from around the world. It focuses on the most avant-garde and the most modern works from the world of design. Visitors will find here names such as Piet Hein Eek, Bokja, Bocci, Jieldé, Astier de Villatte, Manuela Crotti, Gaetano Pesce, Alessandro Mendini, Constance Guisset, James Plumb, Established and Sons, Thomas Eyck, Maarten Baas, Patricia Urquiola, Front Design, Jaime Hayon and many others. The lady of this space is Rossana Orlandi; her address is Via Bandello 14/16, Milan.
Source: BLAF