[artinfo] First NSK Citizens' Congress

[Eva Beatrix Bora]

First NSK Citizen's Congress

21 - 23 October 2010
At the Haus der Kulturen der Welt, John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, 10557
Berlin-Tiergarten
Organised by NSK State in Time

First NSK Citizens' CongressIn 1992, following the independence of
Slovenia, the artistic collective known as "Neue Slowenische Kunst",
or NSK, founded the "NSK State in Time." The creation of this virtual
non-territorial state was a response to the ambivalent status of the
nation state and to supposedly fixed ideas of territory, ethnic group
and borders. The initiative was supported by other Slovene artists and
theorists and appeared as a utopian concept free of territorial
preconditions. The State does not identify itself with other real or
actually existing states and has now grown into a collective (art-)
work with approximately ten thousand members.

NSK's art is complex and its creation of new (post)national symbols is
easily misinterpreted. Debates around the nation state and patriotism
shape the artwork of this distinctive group, which is composed of the
uncompromising group Laibach, known primarily for its musical
activities plus the innovative fine arts collective IRWIN and various
other groups working in different media. NSK is supported and analysed
by art theorists such as Alexei Monroe, also known for his research on
the symbolism of the stag, a key NSK motif.

Another key collaborator is the designer Haris Hararis who developed
the site former nskstate.com website and as well as the Congress
website and the NSK Times site, the key online resources for the NSK
State in Time.

This congress assembles selected citizens of this "micronation" for
the first time, in order to discuss the state and its future. This
project represents a materialisation of the previously virtual "NSK
State in Time" which until now has primarily been understood as an art
project. Over three days, some 30 "delegates", commentators and
observers will meet at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt to discuss the
possible further development of the NSK State in Time. Accompanying
these internal daytime debates there will be an evening programme open
to the public including a seminar addressing the questions raised
during the Congress. The first evening of the Congress will see the
opening of the exhibition "NSK Volk Art". This is art produced in the
style of or referring to NSK by individuals and groups from around the
world. A first selection of NSK Volk Art was recently presented by
IRWIN and NSKSTATE.COM at the Taipei Biennale. The Berlin exhibition
will show for the first time over 60 artworks from the NSK State in
Time collection. In addition, film screenings over two evenings will
present an interesting selection of extracts from the work of NSK plus
related subjects. The event will close with a public party with DJs
and live performers including NSK citizens.

Updates, images and other material are available at
www.sauerbrey-raabe.de and more information will also feature on
http://congress.nskstate.com and http://times.nskstate.com/. The
entire programme will be documented on film, extracts of which will be
available upon request. The Congress initiators IRWIN, Alexei Monroe
and Haris Hararis are available for interviews. Please contact Anna
Jacobi directly to arrange this:

Anna Jacobi,
Press contact
First NSK Citizens' Congress
jacobi[at]sauerbrey-raabe.de