From the emptiness of our Universe to the emptiness of our pockets
Lia Perjovschi and Dan Perjovschi

Opening 24 April 2013,  20:00
24 April 2013 - 18 May 2013

Artist talk: Dan Perjovschi COMMON Lia Perjovschi SENSE: 25/4/2013, at 20:00.


The exhibition 'From the emptiness of our Universe to the emptiness of our pockets' with Lia Perjovschi and Dan Perjovschi is part of the annual program of Stacion - Center for Contemporary Art Prishtina, which is based on the project 'Rethinking (Social) Space Program'.

'Rethinking (Social) Space Program' conceptually is based on Henri Leferbre's thesis that all social space is produced. This position, placed on the constant analysis of our context, can easily be found opposing the demands and expectations that social space and the city which once 'was produced' for us is still there, and also with the belief that this space always existed. Although, the first steps to seek find and use this social space, for dialogue or as a shelter for minorities (constituted by thinking), the subject is confronted only the lack of social space, and the lack of space for independent thought. This finding rarely or never produces the courage to contemplate 'rethinking' and 'reproducing' of it. 

Lia Perjovschi was born in 1961 in Sibiu, Romania. She has studied at Art Academy Bucharest 1987-1993. Currently lives in Bucharest and Sibiu.
Lia Perjovschi is founder and coordinator of CAA /CAA (Contemporary Art Archive and Center for Art Analysis) an organic still in process project (under different names since 1985) and KM (Knowledge Museum based on an interdisciplinary research project from 1999 - today). Her activity can be summarized as a journey from her body to the body of knowledge.

Lia Perjovschi's project 'Knowledge Museum' at Stacion - Center for Contemporary Art Prishtina can be summarized in following positions: Art changed and aesthetics is not enough. To criticize without proposing something is obsolete... To do what you can out of what you have (from the global, local, personal perspective) can be an art form. 
'Knowledge Museum' is a project in which Lia Perjovschi recycles all her other projects. Is a project to build a transdisciplinary museum in Sibiu, and until this will be possible, she present an architectural model using diagram of interdisciplinary research from books, reviews, Internet and objects, used for didactic purpose, both mainly in museums stores around the globe from 1999 - today. 'Knowledge Museum' has these departments: Earth, Body, Art, Culture, Knowledge, Science, Universe.

Dan Perjovschi was born in 1961, lives and works in Bucharest and Sibiu Romania.
His solo exhibitions include Unframed at Kiasma Helsinki 2003, News from the Island at Reykjavik Art Museum in 2012, Not over at MACRO Rome in 2011, Late News at Royal Ontario Museum Toronto in 2010, What Happen to US? at MoMA New York and I am not Exotic I am Exhausted at Kunsthalle Basel in 2007, The Room Drawing at Tate Modern London, On the Other Hand at Portikus Frankfurt and First of May at Moderna Museet Stockholm in 2006 and Naked Drawings at Ludwig Museum Cologne in 2005.

He participates at group shows like Paris Triennial 2012, Dublin Contemporary in 2011, Freedom of Speech at Nbk Berlin & Hamburg Kunstverein in 2010, Lyon Biennial in 2009, the Sydney Biennial and Fifth Floor at Tate Liverpool in 2008, The Magelanic Cloud at Pompidou Center Paris and the 52nd Venice Biennial in 2007, New Europe at Generali Foundation Vienna and the 9th Istanbul Biennial in 2005.

Perjovschi received George Maciunas Prize in 2004 and ECF-Princess Margriet in 2013.

'The Independent Drawing', a project for Stacion - Center for Contemporary Art Prishtina, is a site specific drawing on architecture and (generated) public space.

In Dan's own words: 'I criticize the world, its manners, its beliefs, its stupidity and greed. But I criticize it in an empathic way. My humor is not dark. I draw in white and black but my humor comes in many colors.'

Since the overthrow of communism in Romania, Dan Perjovschi has invested in promoting contemporary art in Romania. In 1991 Perjovschi joined the staff of Bucharest's prominent opposition newspaper 22, as political illustrator and art director to increase his involvement in his country's development.
Today, Perjovschi is internationally known for his graffiti-like drawings that cover the walls, windows, and floors of art galleries. The drawings respond to the convention of contemporary art world, constantly shifting boundaries of the European Union, and the movements of capital around the globe. The images deliver their political message with generosity and humor.

Perjovschi's works with cartoons and 'indoor graffiti' which he draws directly on walls and floors of different international art institutions. He is known for drawing installations that comment on topical events in the art world and politics. The artist observes society and current events critically and fearlessly, yet also with humor. Anything can be subject of his sharp, ironical view. 

The work of Lia Perjovschi and Dan Perjovschi in this context and for Stacion - Center for Contemporary Art Prishtina program, are important for the practice that they carry, for the time and political context, the importance of art, independent art institutiond and independent thought as a significant indicator of the development of democracy and the particular social conditions. 

Every program module of the project 'Rethinking (Social) Space Program' is intertwined with the issue of social and public space, in the new time and geopolitical context, and aim to produce new social space for this scene and contexts, at a time when the tendencies to re-centralize and re-traditionalize thought and society are not limited to a particular context or place. 

The exhibition 'From the emptiness of our Universe to the emptiness of our pockets' with Lia Perjovschi and Dan Perjovschi is supported by:  The Ministry of European Integration of the Republic of Kosovo
Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of the Republic of Kosovo, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, Cultural Heritage without Borders - CHwB Kosovo, Ujë Rugove, x-print, DZG