The democratic revolutions of 1989 in popular culture and art

14, 15, & 17 February 2022
(Online / Vienna, Austria)
Hybrid format, combining online and live sessions:

In the framework of the project “RESHAPING THE IMAGE OF DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTIONS 1989: European Contemporary Perspectives and Forgotten Lessons from the Past” the International Forum “The democratic revolutions of 1989 in popular culture and art” will be realized in a hybrid format, combining online and live sessions.

The project seeks to remind European citizens about the democratic revolutions 1989-1990 as a period of arduous struggles for pluralistic democracy and peaceful coexistence in Europe with the aim to strengthen the contemporary commitment of the European citizens to the preservation of democratic pluralism and democratic institutions. The Forum will be the project’s final activity.

Monday, 14th of February

4 – 5 pm
“How did 1989 change Europe?” (online)

The first session will give general introduction to the topic. The participants of the Forum will see the educational film “How did 1989 change Europe?”.
The film is a product of the discussions held at the International Spring
Forum (16th -18th June, 2021) which focused on 5 key topics:

-Living in divided Europe before 1989
-The democratic revolutions of 1989
-Living in transition
-The legacy of the democratic changes
-The future of Europe

Speaker:
Diana Todorova, Documenta. Todorova is coordinator of the project “Reshaping the image of democratic revolutions 1989: European contemporary perspectives and forgotten lessons from the past”

International Forum “The democratic revolutions of 1989 in popular culture and art” 1

5:30 – 7 pm
“1989 and Photography: Democratic Revolutions through Lenses” (online)

This session will focus on the work of several photographers who were in the right place at the right time during these turbulent years.
The participants of the Forum will have a chance to see digital exhibitions dedicated to the democratic revolutions in different European countries. Relevant photographers will share their professional and personal experience of 1989.

Speakers:
Mirko Krizanovic, photo journalist, born in former Yugoslavia and living in Germany since 1969. Krizanovic documented the democratic transitions of the late 1980s and the 1990s in different European countries.

Dejan Sluga, curator. Sluga graduated Art History and Sociology of Culture at Ljubljana University. In 2003 he established the Photon Association, Gallery and later Center for Contemporary Photography.

Moderator: Eva Kovač, BLOCKFREI