Sunday, December 14, 2008

International Cairo Biennale



The United States will be represented at the 11th International Cairo Biennale by new-media artist Jennifer Steinkamp as well as with a diverse program of activities designed to promote international exchange. Organized by Kimberli Meyer, director of the MAK Center for Art & Architecture at the Schindler House in Los Angeles, a team of Los Angeles-based artists and curators will conduct a variety of adjunct programs, including "Animation Buffet," a screening of contemporary experimental animation; "Other Sides of the World," a public roundtable discussion; a website and blog; and an exhibition catalogue. The Cairo Biennale will run from December 20, 2008 – February 20, 2009.

Jennifer Steinkamp is known for creating computer-generated immersive installations that are both thought provoking and dazzling to the eye. Her digital animations use state-of-the-art technologies and employ elements of popular culture while raising fundamental questions about politics, perception and existence. At the Cairo Arts Palace, Steinkamp will exhibit her multi-channel video piece 
Dervish (2004–2005). The installation will be accompanied by a new work, Dervish Cairo (2008), a suite of three prints that superimposes the trees of Dervish onto photographs of Cairo's urban landscape. 

The Los Angeles art community will also be represented in Cairo by a diverse group of cultural producers. These include writer, curator and artist Malik Gaines; artist and curator Sherin Guirguis; curator Chip Tom; and animation scholar and CalArts faculty member, Maureen Furniss. The L.A. team is conducting a variety of cultural programs as part of the U.S. contribution to the Cairo Biennale. Public dialogue will be activated on December 22 with "Other Sides of the World," a presentation and roundtable discussion in which Gaines, Guirguis, Meyer and Tom give short presentations on their multi-disciplinary work in Los Angeles and discuss common threads in their practices. "Animation Buffet," curated by Maureen Furniss, will be screened on December 23. The 80-minute program features short videos by a wide variety of international artists. The "Extra-Biennial Blog," part of the project web site, will chronicle the activities and art of the Biennale, as well as other art event s in Cairo such as the multi-venue exhibition "Photo Cairo 4: The Long Shortcut," and the workshop and site-specific performance "Eleven Human Senses" by LA group My Barbarian at The Townhouse Gallery.

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