The Baltic Biennale of Contemporary Arts is the long-term international project supported by the government of Saint-Petersburg (Russia) and Consulates General of the Baltic Region’s countries, such as Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and Sweden.
In the program of Biennale are included fine art in a wide range, classical chamber and electronic music, cinematography, video art, media art, performance. In the context of Baltic Biennale conferences and seminars concerning culture of the Baltic Region countries are also organized.
The project concept
The Baltic Biennale is a platform of interaction of the creative intellectuals of the Baltic Region. The project underlines a special geographical, cultural and historical position of Staint-Petersburg. Cultural dialogue is the most effective instrument for the improving of cooperation between countries of the Baltic Region. It helps to find a new ways of collaboration, and therefore - a new ways of international art development.
Baltic Biennale is positioned as a great city festival, that’s why it attracts an attention of mass media. Biennale events are daily covered by newspapers, Internet, television and radio stations.
The exhibition is accompanied by different actions such as musical concerts, performances, showing films, round tables, artist’s meetings and master classes.
Saint Petersburg has always had a talent to be needed for
the people around. The city of Peter the Great blessed cultural
workers to convey this feeling to Russia and the whole
world. Approbation in Saint Petersburg is a symbolic event
in an artist’s biography, there was even an idiomatic expression
“to go through St. Petersburg”.
For the history of Saint Petersburg such a phenomenon in
the art as polystylism, even since the XIX century, has become
the most significant indicator of progress of public
and artistic thought. The Baltic Biennial provide a brilliant
opportunity to mark new names that appeared at the turn
of XX -XX I centuries on the cultural map of countries of the
Baltic region.
An artist is able to foresee many things. I can’t turn my eyes
away from the works where the idea of an object, event
and space exhorts to reproduce a spiritual history of both
the artist and his country. Comprehension and transformation
of the world, moral and humanistic problems excite
cultural workers living in the countries adjoining the Baltic
Sea.
Democracy is a tolerance not only to other people’s views
but also to another life and to the variety of the art. Artists
are peering through the art of their colleagues which is unfamiliar
to them. Modern pluralism means a complete lack
of any privileged position. The exhibition accurately reflects
the present state of the Baltic and Scandinavian cultures.
The Biennial gives quite an impetus to new experiments and
achievements.
Today we see among these achievements the creation of
symbols of mystery and play. Each artist carries on a unique
dialogue with the art.
Idea is primary, means are secondary. I thank the Lord. I
am bowing low before the people who have supported me
since I made my very first step. But still more I thank the artists
who were phoned me and told me: “I dream of coming
to St. Petersburg”. It is desire to know each other, to overcome
bureaucratic obstacles turned out to be full of energy
which inspired us. People’s artistic diplomacy has won.
The point of this exhibition is to praise own country, the
Universe and the human being as well as the freedom of
expression, no matter what art they practice.
No matter how different our temperaments, characters
and preferences in the art are - people of culture proved
to be united in their desire to present their states at a high
level. Artists are able to feel deeply and have an acute
eyesight. The idea of the First Baltic Biennial is in creation,
in the freedom of choice, in our getting to know each other
for the years to come. I am proud and happy about my
St. Petersburg.
Tatiana Yurieva,
professor of Saint-Petersburg State university
Director of Diaghilev Art Centre