FENIX CITIES - ART WORKSHOPS AND EXHIBITIONS IN WARSAW AND BEIRUT
Project curated and organized by Marta Bogdańska and Magdalena Kępka consisted of two art workshops and two exhibitions for young artists and cultural operators from Lebanon and Poland that happened in Warsaw in the end of November 2009 and in Beirut in February 2010. It was organized in cooperation with Stowarzyszenie Integracji Kultury - Raster gallery and Lebanese partners: Zico House and 98weeks Research Project. Two exhibitions took place: Fiction in Action (21st of November - 16th of December 2009 in Raster gallery) and Fitting in Space (20th of February - 16th of March 2010 in Zico House and 98weeks Project Space).
The project was accompanied by a comic publication entitled Yallah! Comics from Beirut.
14 young Lebanese and Polish artists and cultural operators took part in the project.
Project started a dialog and exchange between young Lebanese and Polish artists and cultural practitioners based on a fact that Warsaw and Beirut have similar history. Both cities suffered from destruction during wars, which is visible today. Warsaw was demolished during II World War and rebuilding process is still not over. Beirut was shelled during recent wars and is in the process of reconstruction. The project refers to the idea of 'Fenics cities' - ones that are rising from ashes. Reconstructions are often chaotic and random. They function as fictions of newborn cities often not coherent with history and spatial logic. There is tension between official memorials and other abandoned ones. Artists and cultural operators enter into dialogue with space and signs of destruction both in Beirut and in Warsaw and create ideas and innovations.
Fenix Cities was supported by Anna Lindh Foundation and City of Warsaw.
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First part of Fenix cities project - exhibition of Lebanese art in Raster gallery in Warsaw, November 2009
Marta Bogdanska, curator, during the opening of the exhibition. Warsaw, November 2009
Work from Raad's long-term project The Atlas Group. Warsaw, November 2009
Video projections of Raad's and Solh's As if I don't Fit There. Warsaw, November 2009
One of participants with the work of Raad from The Atlas Group. Warsaw, November 2009
Opening event with Randa Mirza's work in the background. Warsaw, November 2009
Exhibition in the frames of Fenix cities project, Randa Mirza's work. Warsaw, November 2009
Adbusting activity after a day with alternative movements in Warsaw, November 2009
Talk by Jarosław Trybuś on the history of city of Warsaw, November 2009
Siska's installation Skarpa and preparations for cinema event during Fenix cities project. Warsaw, November 2009
Second part of Fenix cities project, taking place in Beirut, February 2010.
Magda Kepka, Zico and Souad Abdallah in Zico House preparing for exhibition in the frames of Fenix cities project, Beirut, February 2010
Nicolas Grospierre installing his work for Fitting in Space durng Fenix cities project, 98weeks project space, Beirut, February 2010
Katarzyna Przezwanska working on her site-specific art work for Fenix cities project in Beirut, February 2010
Paweł Sysiak and his site-specific art work in the frames of Fenix cities, Beirut, February 2010
View of 98weeks space before the opening of exhibition in the frames of Fenix cities, Beirut, February 2010.
Tour of Solidere for workshop participants, Beirut, February 2010
Katarzyna Przezwanska's last touches on her site-specific artwork for Fenix cities, Beirut, February 2010.
Marta Bogdanska and Nicolas Grospierre with TV station giving interview about the exhibition and Fenix cities project, Beirut, February 2010.
Paweł Sysiak artwork, Beirut, February 2010
Nicolas Grospierre artwork, Beirut, February 2010
Nicolas Grospierre's artwork, Beirut, February 2010
Paweł Sysiak artwork, Beirut, February 2010
Katarzyna Przezwanska's artwork, Beirut, February 2010
Nicolas Grospierre's artwork, Beirut, February 2010
Mazen Kerbaj cover for Yallah! Comics from Beirut publication, Beirut, February 2010
