The city of Tartu (Estonia) hosted the event SUPERORGANISM from October 18 to November 23, 2024, organized by the ‘Magic Carpets’ platform.
This event included an international exhibition, a symposium and a book edited by several European cultural organisations. It is an event that is part of the Tartu European Capital of Culture 2024 programme.
At the heart of this event is the concept of Superorganism, which, through its investigation of the balance between individual and collective human existence, focuses on how this affects society and the environment.
During the event, society is analysed as if it were a living organism, in this perspective ethical and political issues regarding collective well-being and individual responsibilities within a larger system are highlighted.
During the opening weekend of the event, a ‘Symposium in Three Acts’ was held, curated by five platform curators. Various philosophical, social, and sustainability perspectives were explored through interactive workshops, discussions, and performances. The symposium addressed the different interpretations of the concept of superorganism from various perepctives and how it can positively influence society and individual expression.
The exhibition ‘Superorganism’, organised by seven curators from the platform, involved 25 emerging artists who participated in residencies between 2021-2024.
The exhibition was hosted within the Aparaaditehas cultural centre. The venue itself metaphorically represents the superorganism, in fact visitors were invited to explore the site, and observe the artworks, which explore themes of coexistence, human rights and the different dynamics between unity and individuality.
This was enriched by the Storybook, a book recounting the journey of the artists, curators and communities involved in the ‘Magic Carpets’ residencies. The book was conceived by five curators and is a compilation of the results of the project, showing how art can connect and inspire.
Visit the website SUPERORGANISM
An opportunity to reflect on the concept of the periphery beyond the sense of a geographical boundary. Because the centre-periphery binomial still represents a structure of consciousness.
The meeting starts from the European platform Magic Carpets. This awareness-raising project aims to cultivate a sense of belonging and to introduce to a broad and international audience young emerging talents who are called upon each year to confront different local identities through residency projects. Inspired by the reflections of Pier Paolo Pasolini, the Magic Carpets project contributes to reformulating the notion of borders by initiating the development of widespread creativity.
On the occasion of the meeting, the docufilm Core made by Monkeys Video Lab and curated by Latitudo Art Projects and the catalogue Magic Carpets Landed published by Quodlibet realised in collaboration with the Kaunas Biennial will be presented.
Here following the Invitation and the Schedule!
Visit the website Magic Carpets.
Carlo Scarpa hall
Videogallery
We will leave our shape behind
The title of the exhibition refers to “1001 Arabian Nights” by Sheherazade, fairy-tale story about the magic and flying carpet, for flying over the world in a twinkling of an eye. This fantastic story becomes here a convincing metaphor of the power of culture to change the mistrust and confrontation into intercultural dialogue, mutual understanding, respect and even love. The subtitle, inspired by a Woman Poetess Audre Lorde, We Will Leave Our Shape Behind (from the poem A woman speaks) gives the idea that we are passing through a new period which raises up new questions.
The international exhibition is a co-creative process, and not just a show of artworks. The concept is related to the idea of transformation and mutation, a starting point to speak to the audience about our contemporaneity. Visitor will be taken in a new story, the story of women artists. Warriors able to adapt to different and adverse circumstances, without sacrificing themselves. They are women that are capable to transform situations, finding great strength in creating a cohesive and resilient network.
Here following the Press Release and the Programme!
Visit the website Magic Carpets Landed
The international exhibit MagiC Carpets Landed is the final event of the four-year project MagiC Carpets, co-financed by Creative Europe, designed to boost visibility for emerging artists throughout Europe. This journey around Europe, with its gaze set on the future, actively involved young audiences and local communities in the fifteen partner countries.
The exhibition presented the work of 57 European artists who, over the four years of the project, provided specific artistic interpretations of the residence locations in different countries.
In Kaunas, each artist provided reflections on pertinent topics such as marginalization, crossing borders, nationalism, and migration. The common thread connecting the various sections the curator organised the exhibit into, however, is really the social energy that brings out movements of change within communities.
Here following the Press Release and the Programme!
Visit the website Magic Carpets Landed
