Supermarket blog
Pre-selection of artist-run spaces exhibiting at Supermarket 2018
Today we are pleased to reveal the pre-selection of artist-run spaces exhibiting at Supermarket 2018, and present an array of exhibitors from all corners of the world!
Newly exhibiting at the Supermarket will be 14 Artist + from Tanzania consists of primarily self taught, full time painters, sculptors and illustrators, with only a few having participated in international art fairs and residences.
Canadian artist-run art centre SAW was established already back in 1973, making it one of the most notable artist-runs in Canada. With over 35 000 visitors each year it definitely is a must-see destinations for contemporary art in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
Some of our Russian representation is the Elektrozavod gallery from Moscow, travelling from an experimental exhibition space located in the former Research Institute of Long-range Radio Communication. Gallery ч9, being another first-time exhibitor at Supermarket, is travelling perhaps even farther – all the way from Murmansk in northwest Russia, where it has the claim of being the first and only contemporary art space in the city.
Durden and Ray from the other side of the pond in Los Angeles is organised by its 24 members. The space works with members-organised curated group shows as well as international artists, and with focus set on global exchange and alternative networks.
HotDock Gallery showcases works by artists from Slovakia and the Czech Republic, surrounded by docks and industrial surroundings in the Port of Bratislava. The location holds more than a typical industrial setting in the eyes of HotDockers, serving as inspiration for site specific projects, as means to attract the general public to the area, and to incite discussions on the potential relationships to an industrial environment, generally intended for consumption.
As we were curious to know more, we asked some of the exhibitors a couple of questions:
a) What can we look forward to seeing in your exhibition stand at Supermarket 2018?
b) If you could put one thing related to your gallery in a box and store it for eternity, what would it be?
SAW, Canada
a) Some of what we will bring to Supermarket:
PUBLIC DISTURBANCE: Politics and Protest in Contemporary Indigenous Art from Canada – A multidisciplinary exhibition that features protests and actions by some of Canada's most influential Indigenous artists; NORDIC LAB – We will launch a research space for contemporary artists called Nordic Lab in 2018, which will promote the exchange of artists living in Canada’s North, Scandinavia and Nordic countries; HB MAGAZINE – HB is an artist-run magazine that is dedicated to drawing practices. The European launch of its latest issue Structures will take place at the Galerie SAW Gallery stand as part of Supermarket 2018.
b) We're currently under renovation for our major expansion project and if we could store something for eternity, it would be our broken disco ball from our social space, Club SAW. It has shone fragments of light on so many amazing people throughout the years...
Gallery ч9
a) We ourselves are very much looking forward to see what's going to be presented at the stand! So far we have an idea – let's see how it develops.
b) Matrox Triplehead2Go [SM Team’s remark: We also had no idea what this is, and had to Google it up!]
Durden and Ray
a) Durden and Ray is excited to show work made by members of our Los Angeles artist collective. We'll also do our best to bring some of our weather.
b) What would we keep for eternity? Our Eames desk chair? Our website's domain name? Our wall repair supplies? All good options. After all, eternity is a long time for a gallery... But if we could only keep one thing for an eternity, it would be the friendships we've made, both within our group and with all the other galleries and collectives we've had the joy of collaborating with.
Musel Link
a) Musel Link will show “Luxemburg Art Scene in the Hollow of the Hand”, miniature art works by 11 artists residing in Luxembourg. Each art piece should fit a palm of the hand. The group is a miniature portrait of the current Luxembourg art scene as selected artistes belong to different generations (70 to 30 years) and are coming from diverse backgrounds and different fields of visual creation
b) I would put a small curved mirror, as it can swallow and reflect all the surrounding space in the hollow of the hand.
Alma Martha/Kalashnikovv from Cape Town/Johannesburg – Artist-Run Allience from Tel Aviv – Berlinskej model from Prague – Bunkern from Västerås – Candyland from Stockholm – Elektrozavod gallery from Moscow – KC Grad from Belgrade – Kunstverein Familie Montez from Frankfurt – Paleis van Mieris from Amsterdam – Storm and Drunk from Madrid are some of the exhibitors
New Supermarket 2018 Team Members
Have you ever wondered who these Supermarket people even are?
We think it is nice if you get to know a bit about the people behind the scene and emails, and whom you will encounter at the fair.
And so we wanted to share with you our two latest, brightest additions to the Supermarket 2018 team: Franziska Sperling as Talks and Performances coordinator & Emer Ní Chíobhaín as Professional Networking Participants coordinator.
Our project manager asked them a couple of questions and you can read below their replies to what they are going to do at Supermarket, and their thoughts on Legacy – and even eternity.
Hi Emer, hi Franziska! You are brand new to the Supermarket Team and as such we have high hopes for you to bring some fresh and glorious ideas to the programme. What are you going to work with at Supermarket and what does it involve?
Franziska: I am the Talks & Performance programme coordinator and will help to gather the most interesting participants who will contribute either with a highly relevant public talk to the legacy theme or with an exciting, unforgettable and path-breaking performance to the Supermarket 2018 programme!
Emer: This year I'm the PNP coordinator! As a professional networking participant (PNP) at Supermarket myself a couple of years ago I know what it's like to be part of the art fair but not exhibiting. Although PNPs do not exhibit, they are able to take part in special seminars and discussions, the meetings programme, exhibitor gatherings, exhibitor party, and gain access to the very exciting VIP Exhibitor lounge! I'll be working closely with my colleagues in the Meetings programme and the Talks programme to make this year’s PNP experience an interesting and exciting one.
Is there something that you are particularly looking forward to at the art fair?
Franziska: I really look forward to working with the super Supermarket team and by that getting to know a different professional environment and of course to learn so much more about the amazing artists who rock the independent art scene.
Emer: As always, every year, for me it’s about meeting people. I'm excited to see what new faces will be around as well as catching up with some old ones!
This year’s theme is Legacy. What are your thoughts and ideas in regards to that? Do you think it is easy to create a programme around a theme like that?
Franziska: It will be interesting to be looking together into the past and the future, and trying to see ourselves/the art scene from a past and future perspective. Where are we today and where do we want to be in future? How much influence do we have today in order to be remembered and how much will the perception of what we do today change?
I think the biggest challenge is to combine all the different ideas of and perspectives on legacy and create like a map of thoughts and practices at the art fair. But differences are a good starting point for discussions and exchange, which will hopefully lead to that both artists and the audience feel inspired and encouraged for future practices and projects.
Emer: "Legacy" is such a big idea, and as such I do think it's easy to create a programme around it, but it's the potential directions it can be taken that will be interesting. Are we going to be looking at the future of artist-run-spaces in the current economic climate? Or perhaps, looking at taking over from those who have gone before and bringing in new generations of practice and practices. I'm excited to see what this year's talks programme will bring.
A futuristic question: Will art still be relevant in 1000 years?
Franziska: As long as people are left in 1000 years there will be art and it will be relevant! (I wonder what art will look like though, and how it will develop.)
Emer: Of course! I'm not sure what the "state of art" will look like. But art will always be relevant.
And lastly, if you could put one thing in a box and store it for eternity, what would it be?
Franziska: It would be a letter of a friend. Highly important to me. Completely irrelevant for anyone who would find the box.
Emer: Wow! I really don't know what to say! Well, if I'm to store something for eternity, it has to last forever, right? I've always had a fascination with ancient Egyptian rituals so maybe I would mummify something. Perhaps I'd have myself mummified after my death with elaborate decoration and all!
Bio:
Franziska Sperling is based in Stockholm and has a MA degree in Cultural Studies from Leipzig University, Germany. She made Stockholm the place for her academic research on public art and the relationship between art and society, as well as the place for professional challenges within mediation and education.
Emer Ní Chíobháin is an Irish visual artist and arts administrator. She is the acting PRO for artist-run space; Detroit, Stockholm. In her own visual arts practice she has exhibited across Ireland, as well as internationally in New York, Sofia, London and locally at Detroit, Stockholm and at Supermarket – Stockholm Independent Art Fair.
Supermarket 2018 Teaser: An excursion into Stockholm's meatpacking district
The application for Supermarket 2018 closed a couple of weeks ago and we can already say that our excursion into Stockholm’s meatpacking district holds some exciting prospects!
This edition of Supermarket will host up to 50 exhibitors from ca 25 countries, introducing for the first time art spaces from Luxembourg and Slovakia, welcome again Israeli and Tanzanian galleries, and show a strong representation of Central European and Russian artist-runs. In addition, we are pleased to announce several new collaborations. There is Konstfrämjandet, who we invited to develop part of Supermarket’s Talks programme. Kritiklabbet will move its editorial machinery in the very centre of the art fair to make The Last Mass Mail, a live-printed newspaper of participative citizens’ criticism. And more projects to come. And more projects to come. For further info, please see our latest press release here.
The pre-selection results of exhibitors will be announced on 30 November, so stay tuned for more!
Thank you!
We are all over the moon about the great response from the exhibitors that we received for Supermarket 2018 and would like to say thank you to all of those who expressed their interest. The quality of the proposals is impressive and it will be a tough decision this year! Our eyes are straight on your applications - hear from us soon!
Photo credit: Andreas Ribbung
Halloween on the doorstep - is your submission to exhibit at Supermarket 2018 secured?
Yes, tomorrow might be Halloween but what is more important is that it is also the LAST DAY to apply to exhibit at Supermarket 2018!
The Open Call runs until midnight 31st October so you can whip up your application in a festive spirit, with pumpkin in one hand and drink in another.
So far we received a number of superb proposals and we are looking forward to read through even more of them. The thrill is on!
Photo credit: Andreas Ribbung
