DECEMBRES REVISITED: RE-NARRATING A PAST
An exhibition by Maj Hasager
This exhibition is the third chapter in a two-year long project entitled Decembers.
Laznia – Centre for Contemporary Art in Gdansk originally commissioned the artist to produce new works in a Polish context in 2012 and for the exhibition at GREEN IS GOLD a new film work and installation has been produced. The project revolves around themes of memory, stigmatisation and the construction of history and is developed in collaboration with a group of women who participated in literary workshops at the University of the Third Age in Gdansk, Poland. The women recall forgotten stories and fragmentary memories of everyday life during the communist era.
The exhibition is structured around the personal narratives of the women and their memories of times when they had no voice in the public realm, and consists of re-interpreted archival material that juxtaposes images from official Polish history with personal stories. The women are giving their views on the two December strikes of 1970 and 1981. The first was brutally put down by the Polish People's Army and the Citizen's Militia - at least 42 people were killed and more than 1,000 wounded - and the latter event in 1981 marked the beginning of a period of martial law, but here witnessed from the periphery.
These narratives are sometimes funny and sometimes dramatic, and are narrated from a female and largely missing perspective. They offer a retelling of a historical narrative, and shine a light on the discarded stories of everyday life and emphasize their role in the fabric of history.
www.majhasager.net
The project has been generously supported in part by the Danish Cultural Institute in Warsaw, The Danish Arts Council, The Danish Arts Foundation, European Centre for Solidarity and Nordic Culture Point.
An exhibition by Maj Hasager
This exhibition is the third chapter in a two-year long project entitled Decembers.
Laznia – Centre for Contemporary Art in Gdansk originally commissioned the artist to produce new works in a Polish context in 2012 and for the exhibition at GREEN IS GOLD a new film work and installation has been produced. The project revolves around themes of memory, stigmatisation and the construction of history and is developed in collaboration with a group of women who participated in literary workshops at the University of the Third Age in Gdansk, Poland. The women recall forgotten stories and fragmentary memories of everyday life during the communist era.
The exhibition is structured around the personal narratives of the women and their memories of times when they had no voice in the public realm, and consists of re-interpreted archival material that juxtaposes images from official Polish history with personal stories. The women are giving their views on the two December strikes of 1970 and 1981. The first was brutally put down by the Polish People's Army and the Citizen's Militia - at least 42 people were killed and more than 1,000 wounded - and the latter event in 1981 marked the beginning of a period of martial law, but here witnessed from the periphery.
These narratives are sometimes funny and sometimes dramatic, and are narrated from a female and largely missing perspective. They offer a retelling of a historical narrative, and shine a light on the discarded stories of everyday life and emphasize their role in the fabric of history.
www.majhasager.net
The project has been generously supported in part by the Danish Cultural Institute in Warsaw, The Danish Arts Council, The Danish Arts Foundation, European Centre for Solidarity and Nordic Culture Point.
Press:
October 2013: Interview by Dea Antonsen and pictures of the exhibition DECEMBRES REVISITED: RE-NARRATING A PAST on Kopenhagen.dk
Film screening of Decembers – a round table conversation
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As part of the exhibition the 65 min long film, Decembers – a round table conversation will be screened at Husets Biograf, located close to GREEN IS GOLD.
Film Screening 19:00, 09.10.13 at Husets Biograf Rådhusstræde 13, 1466, Copenhagen K There will be a short introduction to the film and afterwords a Q & A session with the director. Language: Polish with English subtitles |
Decembers - a round table conversation [12:39 mins sequences from the video, total lenght 65:00 min]
2012 © Maj Hasager
2012 © Maj Hasager
Photographs: GREEN IS GOLD.
