PRESS
Bratislava, September 28, 2011 – Following a successful opening round in 2010, the Foundation – Centre Of Contemporary Art (N-CSU) and the Clockwise production agency, in a cooperation with the Slovak National Gallery (SNG), organise the second year of BLAF - the Bratislava Art Festival. BLAF 2011 will continue in the spirit of its first year. Apart from the 5-day journey full of the inspiring main program taking place in 27 participating galleries, organisers have also prepared an interesting and rich set of complementary events. The festival’s goal is again to bring the Slovak art scene closer to the broad public in an attractive and spontaneous way.
BLAF 2011 is again based on a well-prepared program of independent galleries, as they already last year demonstrated that they have plenty to offer and it is worth exploring the world of art through them. Several selected galleries have also proved to be capable of actively cooperating and synchronising their activities. They have established their own initiative entitled the Gallery Weekend, which brings opportunities to discuss with gallerists late into the evening hours, offers advice for beginning arts collectors and connoisseurs, and present selected artists’ portfolios.
The festival’s opening concert featuring performances by Billy Barman, Živé kvety and Zóna A will definitely not let you stay at home on Friday evening, enticing you to spend it with us at the courtyard of SNG. The weekend program is literally packed, promising you to find everything you need for a well-spent leisure time and weekend relaxation. BLAF also prepared a program for entire families, theatre for children and creative workshops and art rooms, where you can learn about various art techniques under the guidance of our lectors, discovering art from many angles in amusing ways.
BLAF will take care of all your senses, so that you can relax not only with a coffee or a tea, but also other culinary delights, for example during the evening screening of experimental films in the legendary SNG amphiteatre entitled Kinečko blafuje, or during discussions, lectures and readings. Together with the DENAMIT association, BLAF also brings you the refreshing BLAF_STYLE fashion show, which will present young and progressive domestic as well as foreign fashion designers.
During the festival, you can visit almost 30 galleries, which offer events related to contemporary photography, alternative Slovak graphic arts, contemporary architecture, jewellery, glass, interior design and interactive installations. BLAF is inviting you to enjoy exhibitions, curatorial lectures, readings by authors, discussions with artists, dance performances, presentations of glass-making projects, live audiovisual shows; to party at the Krokus Art Lunch in the Krokus Gallery, Flash Art Party, Artyčok TV – open Archive, the NU Spirit Club, Hopkirk bar; or to be enticed to a wine-tasting tour of galleries.
The more hard-to-please visitors can attend the Network And Synchronisation international conference, complementing the ironapplause.net international exhibition of young artists from ten Central and Eastern European countries in SNG. BLAF program also includes lectures by Marc Sands (the Tate Gallery, London) and Jiří Švestka (the Jiří Švestka Gallery, Prague) on the topics of new trends in marketing and communication, various aspects of collecting art and ways of achieving success by young Central and Eastern European artists.
It is evident the BLAF program will offer not only a unique experience, but also an intellectual feast – and all that with FREE ENTRANCE TO ALL EVENTS FOR EVERYBODY. BLAF is the festival you simply cannot miss!
