Art Exhibitions as intersections in Post War Europe

Scholars of art history and exhibition studies are increasingly investigating the role of art institutions in the circulation of art, in post war Europe. The movement of art between East and West Europe, and the heterogenic nature of contemporary art and exhibitions during the cold war period, have come into focus.

This international conference seeks to address the art exhibition as a site of international relations and a mirror of society across East and West Europe during the post war period. We seek researchers interested in the myriad of exhibitions revealed from institutional archives, avoiding stereotypical focus on landmark exhibitions. The aim is to present a heterogenic history of art, movement of artists, and collaborations facilitating exhibitions during the post war period.

We welcome papers that deal with specific exhibitions and/or institutions. Furthermore, papers that address methodological challenges in researching exhibitions and art institutions regarding e.g. the selection of case studies, the question of centre and periphery, and curating before the formation of the curator.

Amongst the questions we seek to address are:
- The role of the national authorities for the formation of art exhibitions.
- Art exhibitions and diplomacy.
- Commercial interests, art galleries, and art exhibitions as “trade fairs”
- Curating solidarity, NGO and exhibition making.
- Artists associations and networks as exhibition facilitators.
- Art exhibitions as educational strategies for democracy.
- Art exhibitions mirroring cold war politics.

Confirmed Keynote:
Professor Anthony Gardner, The Ruskin School of art, Oxford. His research explores the cultural politics of contemporary art, especially in the contexts of anti-imperialism and post-socialism, with particular emphasis on art and curatorial practice beyond the North Atlantic region.

The conference is held at Royal Academy of Fine Arts and Moderna Museet, Stockholm.

Please email a 300 word abstract and short CV to exhibitionsconferencesh.se by 31st January 2021

This conference is funded by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, and organised within the research project: Exhibiting Art in a European Periphery? International Art in Sweden during the Cold War, funded by the Swedish Research Council