Opening of the 9th Edition of Göteborg International Biennial for Contemporary Art (GIBCA)

Photo: Santiago Mostyn

Göteborg International Biennial for Contemporary Art (GIBCA)
WheredoIendandyoubegin – On Secularity
September 9 – November 19, 2017
http://gibca.se

WheredoIendandyoubegin – On Secularity, seeks to stimulate public discourse on a subject of contemporary social and political significance: that of the secular. What role should secularity have in society today?

Based on the principle of separation between religious belief (and non-belief) from the state, Western liberal secularity strives to create the conditions that produce and protect four civic cornerstones: political and social equality, minority rights, religious freedom, and the legal separation of private and public domains. Secularity, not to be confused with atheism, has played an essential role in society, creating the conditions for regulating complex and often divisive areas of transaction, including sexual freedoms, freedom of religion, gender equality and freedom of expression. Yet in the midst of the geo-political upheaval that has continued to take place since the beginning of the 21st century, liberal secularity finds itself under acute pressure. Numerous profound questions emerge about the future. What happens to secularity during moments of crisis? How can we sustain freedoms—social, sexual, cultural or religious—in a situation of stark cultural differences? What do we mean by “belief” today? Is it the state that is best positioned for defining secularity? If not, who should? GIBCA 2017 seeks to engage with fundamental questions about Europe, the formalisation of its values, and the fine line between protection and violence.

With the participation of approximately 50 artists, WheredoIendandyoubegin will be a multi-faceted event, comprised primarily of an exhibition of art and historic artefacts, with numerous site-specific art projects developed in different locations in Gothenburg. Exhibition displays and programmes will be presented at the Röda Sten Konsthall, Göteborg Konsthall and other sites, including Gothenburg City Library who host an exhibition of film and video works titled We’re saying what you’re thinking. A survey of early works by Jens Haaning is presented across various locations in the biennial. GIBCA collaborates with Platform for Artistic Research in Sweden (PARSE) at Valand Academy on a special issue of PARSE Journal. A catalogue documenting the biennial will also be published subsequently.

Opening week

Tuesday, September 5
BRA 10 & GIBCA
Konstepidemin, 6pm–midnight
Art bar with music, food, performance and artists talks

Wednesday, September 6
Inauguration of GIBCAs satellite programme GIBCA Extended
Kastellgatan and Konstepidemin, 6pm–midnight
Gallery night with openings, music, performance and the opening of the GIBCA Extended exhibition I want to believe

Friday, September 8
Professional preview
Registration: Röda Sten Konsthall, 10am
Apply for accreditation here

Release of PARSE Journal: Secularity
In collaboration with PARSE, Valand Academy
Folk, 8pm–late

Saturday, September 9
Opening of WheredoIendandyoubegin – On Secularity
Inauguration: Röda Sten Konsthall, 1pm
All venues, 11am–5pm

Opening party with Club Wonderland
Röda Sten Konsthall, 10pm–3am

Sunday, September 10
GIBCA Extended at Konstepidemin
Artist talks, exhibitions and performance
Konstepidemin, 11:30am–5pm

For further information, please contact fredrika.almqvist@gibca.se and visit gibca.se.