Around 300 artworks will be exhibited at the 5th Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland

The 5th Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland, set as a goal true to previous years to show the integrative role of graphic art. The event was surrounded by great interest on the part of the profession. This year came in around 2300 artworks of more than 900 artists from 58 countries.

‘The great number of participants and submitted works confirm definitely, that the biennial has come into a phase, when we can state with confidence and can state as fact, that we have here an event, that is acknowledged in the whole world. There is no doubt, that the biennial has become one of the most important artistic events of our region and its presence is unquestionably justified’ – says Apor Ferencz S., curator of the biennial.

The concept of this year’s biennial is about the presentation of the interactions between the traditional and digital techniques. It deals with the question: how and at which point does the Pixel based image meet graphic art, what kind of representation forms are created through these overlaps, respectively what kind of actual intellectual contents are born in this way.

The big number of the submitted works influenced the professional quality of the material of the biennial positively. In this extremely diverse material a lot of point of views, attitudes and styles manifest themselves through traditional and experimental, self-developed and digital techniques as a reaction to the issue raised in the concept of this biennial.

The opening celebration of the exhibition organized from the 294 selected works will take place in the Transylvanian Art Centre in Sfântu Gheorghe on the 13th October 2018 at 5 p.m.. In the conference room of Székely Mikó High School will be exhibited further artworks, belonging to the material of the biennial. The Awards Gala will begin at 6 p.m. in the Tamási Áron Theatre.

Also in the framework of this event on the 12th of October the exhibition of the former curator of the biennial Siklodi Zsolt will open in the House of Arcades, respectively in MAGMAtemp in Keresztes House (Gróf Mikó Imre street, no. 9). the exhibition of Kamil Kocurek, the winner of the 2016 biennial will begin.

The jury of the biennial was composed of internationally appreciated art historians and artists: dr. Cristian Aurel Opriș graphic artist, professor at the University of Art and Design Cluj-Napoca (RO), dr. István Erőss graphic artist, professor at the Institute of Visual Arts of Eszterházy Károly University in Eger (HU), Liu Chun-Lan art historian, professor at the National University of Art Taiwan (TW), dr. Anca Boeriu graphic artist, professor at the National University of Art Bucharest (RO), Zoltán Vécsi Nagy, art historian, director of the Transylvanian Art Centre (RO), Ábel Kónya artist, curator of the Modem in Debrecen (HU) and Apor Ferencz S. artist, curator of the biennial (RO).

The jury assigns four awards among the artists submitting the artworks meeting the highest standards: the Grand Prize of the Biennial of 2000 euro, respectively three prizes of 1000 euro: the Nagy Imre-Prize, the Plugor Sándor-Prize and the Nagy Pál-Prize.

The works selected by the jury will be exhibited in December in Miercurea Ciuc as well.

The main sponsors of the event are: Bertis and Perla Harghitei.

Polish graphics in Miercurea Ciuc – Selection from the works presented in 2016 at the 2nd International Graphics Biennial  Bucharest

The exhibition presenting around thirty prints aims to provide us insight into a little segment of Polish graphics with great traditions and many significant personalities.  The opening ceremony of the exhibition will take place on the 17th of October 2018 at 6 p.m. in the Art Gallery of Harghita County Council.

Graphic artist Anca Boeriu, university professor of Bucharest National University of Art, curator of BIPB selected the artworks to be shown at the exhibition in Miercurea Ciuc from the material of the International Graphic Art Biennial Bucharest, 2016 (BIPB).

This event could come true as a first step of the professional collaboration between the International  Graphic Art Biennial Bucharest and the Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland, Sfântu Gheorghe. The common point of  both biennials was the clearly noticeable, significant presence of Polish graphic artists.

The exhibition is part of the 5th Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland, Sfântu Gheorghe. Sponsor: Harghita County Council, co-organizer: Cultural and Art Centre Lăzarea.

The exhibition can be visited from the 17th of October until the 5th of November.

The documents of an uncompleted oeuvre
Memorial exhibition of Zsolt Siklodi (1966–2017)

On the 12th of October 2018  at 7 p.m. will take place the book launch and exhibition in memory of Zsolt Siklodi, former curator of the Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland in the House with Arcades.

At the beginning Zsolt Siklodi created his „visual experiments” with a graphical approach, sometimes using classical means (lithography, drawing, etching) and sometimes using the possibilities of the new technologies (plotter, photocopies, mechanical engraving). At the same time, he also tried new ways in other genres with a lot of playfulness.

Zsolt Siklodi was born in Sovata in 1966, he went to school to Târgu Mureș, then studied at the University of Art and Design Cluj-Napoca. After graduation he was a teacher at „Palló Imre” Art High School, then became artistic director of the Cultural and Art Centre of Lăzarea and president of Kusztos Endre Art Foundation of Sovata.

He was also curator and organizer of the KorkéP International Art Camp and Exhibition of Lăzarea, respectively founded an art review with the same name as well. His artworks could be seen in several  individual and group exhibitions at home and abroad. Until his death in 2017 he was curator and member of the jury of the Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland.

„The unfinished oeuvre and the diverse organizing activity makes up a whole and is quite difficult to replace. Although we can systemize, present and work up his life work – we intend to do that with this publication, too – his brilliant personality, this lively and perpetual organizing activity cannot be replaced any more”. – writes István Erőss, consultant of the Biennial and one of the editors of the book

The exhibition will be opened by Kata Ungvári-Zrínyi. The book will be presented by István Erőss and Apor Ferencz S., respectively Kata Ungvári-Zrínyi. The exhibition can be seen until the 2nd of November 2018 in the House with Arcades.

Arena of Games – the individual exhibition of Kamil KOCUREK, polish graphic artist
Winner of the Grand Prize of the of the 4th Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland

Exhibition with title ‘Arena of games’ presents works which were created in years 2014 – 2018. Will be exhibited sets of intaglio prints, main part of these prints are the compositions are a kind of polyptych presented fit in a structured and specific modular arrangement which forms a multiplied graphic compositions.

The origin of the artist’s works and the concept behind them stem from his personal interests. ‘In the face of global terrorist threat, war and conflicts I want to draw inspiration from news and the media world, reworking them in my own way. I create a specific space named arena to express my fears, fascinations and interests, and then provoke and determine the form of my visual response” – says Kucorek.

The form of the works refers to the of unreality of metaphorical arena and battlefield, played and simulated space set in contemporary times.

The opening of the exhibition is organized on the 12th of October 2018, at 5 P.M., in MAGMAtemp, Keresztes House (Gróf Mikó Imre str., no. 9.). The curator of the exhibition is Magdalena Hanysz-Stefańska.

Kamil Kocurek was born in 1990 in Tychy in Poland. He finished Secondary School of Fine Arts in Katowice in 2010. He studied in the Faculty of Art in Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice. His diploma was obtained in the Intaglio Studio of Professor Jan Szmatloch in 2015 when he was awarded. After graduation he joined the academic staff of the Faculty of Graphics in Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk in Poland.

His main interest are graphic arts, paintings and art installations. He has been participating actively in many reviews and festivals of graphics in Poland and abroad.

His web page: www.kamilkocurek.blogspot.com

The exhibition can be visited until the 9th of November 2018, from 10 a.m.- to 6 p.m., except Monday.

Covasna County Council, Covasna County Cultural Centre, Harghita County Council, Transylvanian Art Centre Association, Mures County Council and Cultural and Art Centre of Lăzarea kindly invite You to participate at the events and at the opening celebration of the 5th Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland.

Programme
12.10. – 09.11.2018
Sfântu Gheorghe

12 October 2018, at 5 P.M.
Arena of Games – the individual exhibition  of Kamil KOCUREK, polish graphic artist, winner of the Grand Prize of the of the 4th Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland, MAGMAtemp, Keresztes House (Gróf Mikó Imre str., no. 9.).
Curator of the exhibition: Magdalena Hanysz-Stefańska.
The exhibition can be visited until the 9th of November 2018, from 10 a.m.- to 6 p.m., except Monday.

12 October 2018, at 7 p.m.
Book launch and exhibition: The documents of an unclosed oeuvre – Zsolt Siklódi (1966-2017), a memorial exhibition of the former curator of the Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland / House with Arcades.
Opening speech by: Kata Ungvári-Zrínyi.
Book presentation by: István Erőss, Apor Ferencz S. and Kata Ungvári-Zrínyi.
The exhibition can be visited until the 2nd November 2018.

13 October 2018, at 5 p.m.
Exhibition opening of the 5th Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland / Transylvanian Art Centre
The exhibition runs until the 9th of November 2018.

13 October 2018, at 6 p.m. 18:00
Awarding ceremony of the 5th Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland, Jazz Concert with Luiza Zan – Sárik Péter Duo / Tamási Áron Theatre

In the conference room of Székely Mikó High School there are exposed further artworks belonging to this exhibition.

17.10.2018 – 25.01.2019
Miercurea-Ciuc

17 October 2018, at 6 p.m.
Polish Graphics – A selection from the material of the 2nd Graphic Art Biennial of Bucharest, BIPB 2016 / County Hall Gallery.
Opening speech: Apor Ferencz S. and Zoltán Ferencz.
Participant artists: Adam Czech, Franciszek Nieć, Henryk Krolikowski, Katarzyna Harciarek, Koniuszy Lukasz, Lena Achtelik, Magda Szplit, Marec Pospiech, Monika Krasoń, Waslaw Haladaj.
The exhibition can be visited in the period of 17.10.2018 – 5.11.2018.

17 December 2018, at 6 p.m.
The 5th Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland/ County Hall Gallery
Opening speech by: Apor Ferencz S., curator of the biennial and Eszter Túros, art historian.
The exhibition runs in the period of 17.12.2018 – 25.01.2019.

The main sponsors of the event are: Bertis and Perla Harghitei.

The Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland, based on ten long years’ experience, is gaining ever more attention and recognition. This is well supported by the number and artistic value of the artworks submitted to the 5th Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland. During the ten-week submission period 2249 artworks by 934 artists were submitted altogether, which is almost the double of the previous edition of the Biennial.

If we regard the country of origin of the applicants, the objective “to place side by side the local and the universal, and thus to find and define the role of endeavours in the field of graphic art, born in the region as well as in other parts of the world, within global trends…”, often expressed by the late curator of the Biennial, Zsolt Siklódi, seems more and more feasible. Artworks were submitted from 58 countries all over the world; similarly to the 2012 and 2014 editions, Hungary, Romania and Poland are the most represented countries, besides, there is an increasing representation of Russia, Serbia, India and China as well.

The deadline of the 5th Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland was April 3, midnight; the first phase of the evaluation of the jury took place at the Covasna County Cultural Center on 5-6 April. The members of the jury are internationally acknowledged art historians and artists: dr. Cristian Aurel Opriş, Associate Professor of the University of Art and Design Cluj-Napoca; dr. István Erőss, Head of the Visual Arts Institute of the Eszterházi Károly University in Eger; Liu Chun-Lan, Professor of the National Taiwan University of Art; dr. Anca Boeriu, Assistant Professor of the National University of Arts Bucharest; Zoltán Vécsi Nagy, art historian, director of the Transylvanian Art Center; Ábel Kónya, chief curator of the Modem from Debrecen, Hungary; Apor Ferencz S., artist.

Five members of the professional jury evaluated the artworks on the spot and two members evaluated them online. From among more than two thousand works 295 were selected into the second phase. The applications that did not conform to the formal requirements of the call for application were excluded from the start; the remaining artworks were evaluated exclusively from a professional point of view.

Dr. István Erőss graphic artist noted that this year’s material was highly varied and all sorts of tendencies were represented thanks to the fact that there were applicants from all over the world. The generational differences among the artists were also perceptible; the differences between the views of the so-called “older” artists and university students were clearly contoured. Apor Ferencz S., the curator of the Biennial expressed his satisfaction over the fact that a great part of the applicants submitted artworks in conformity with the basic conception of the “G5” call for applications.

During the ten-week application period 2,249 artworks have been submitted altogether from 934 creators, which is nearly twice as much as the previous release. The professional jury selected 294 works for the exhibition material, which are the following:

The professional artists and the art university students have 4 more days to participate in the 5th Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland. The organizers are waiting for the digital reproduction of the artworks by April 3, midnight (UTC+2) instead of March 30.

The registration form and further information related to application is available at the following link: https://gbiennial.ro/wp2/en/call-for-application-2018/

The call for applications of the 5th Graphic Art Biennial is valid for 10 more days. We expect the uploading of the digital reproductions of the artworks on our website until 30 March 2018, 12:00 (AM).

Artworks can be submitted in one comprehensive category, printed graphics, which includes graphic artworks created with traditional procedures of graphic art; graphic artworks created with digital methods of image creation and printed with digital devices; and graphic artworks prepared with digital methods of image creation but printed with traditional methods.

The disqualifying condition of participation is that the artworks have been created in the past 2 years. We expect the applications of professional artists as well as art university students from Romania and from abroad.

Further information regarding submission is available at: www.grafikaiszemle.ro.

Best regards
Apor Ferencz S.
curator of the biennial
Sfântu Gheorghe, 20th of March 2018

In the series of the Graphic Art Biennials of Szeklerland, the curator Zsolt Siklodi’s unexpected, tragic death has compelled the organizers to a painful and necessary reconsideration. Zsolt Siklodi often suggested that “The objective of the Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland is to place side by side the local and the universal, and thus to find and define the role of endeavours in the field of graphic art, born in the region as well as in other parts of the world, within global trends…”.

The organizers have also built the basic concept of this year’s biennial around these determining thoughts: “The experience gained in the past decade has shown that the relationship between the pixel-based image and traditional graphic art raises much more complex questions than it seemed at the first approach. A beneficial, fertilizing transgression can be observed between the digital and the analog worlds, which has extended the possibilities of expression of the graphic image, opening new horizons in the field of graphic art. The 2018 ‘G5’ Biennial wishes to provide an opportunity for the presentation of these interactions.” The new curator, Apor Ferencz S., artist from Miercurea Ciuc, also wishes to carry out his activity in the spirit of these ideas.

The call for application of the 5th Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland is already public, graphic artists from the country and abroad can submit their artworks until March 30, 2018, 12:00 am. Submission can exclusively be made on the website www.grafikaiszemle.ro, via the online entry form. The digital reproductions of the artworks can be uploaded online, via the entry form, together with the required data. In the first phase, the jury will evaluate the digital reproductions; the artworks selected into the second phase will be included in the catalogue of the event and will form part of the exhibition.

The members of the jury are internationally acknowledged art historians and artists: dr. Cristian Aurel Opriş, Associate Professor of the University of Art and Design Cluj-Napoca; dr. István Erőss, Head of the Visual Arts Institute of the Eszterházi Károly University in Eger; Liu Chun-Lan, Professor of the National Taiwan University of Art; dr. Anca Boeriu, Assistant Professor of the National University of Arts Bucharest; Zoltán Vécsi Nagy, art historian, director of the Transylvanian Art Center; Ábel Kónya, chief curator of the Modem from Debrecen, Hungary; Apor Ferencz S., artist. The jury awards four prizes: the Main Prize of the Biennial (2000 euro) and three further prizes, the Nagy Imre Prize, the Plugor Sándor Prize and the Nagy Pál Prize (1000 euro each).

The awarding ceremony of this year’s biennial will take place on October 13, 2018, and will be preceded by the opening of the exhibition from the selected artworks in the Transylvanian Art Center from Sfântu Gheorghe. Within the framework of the event, the exhibition of the works of Zsolt Siklodi, former curator of the biennial, will be opened in the House with Arcades, as well as the exhibition of the works of Kamil Kucurek, winner of the previous biennial, in the Magma Contemporary Art Space.

Photo credit: Vargyasi Levente