Protests Over Appointments at Ujazdowski Castle and Norwegian Modernist Building Demolition
An open letter has attracted over 1,400 signatures from individuals in the arts field, including notable curators like Charles Esche, Krist Gruithuijsen, Ekaterina Degot, and Cosmin Costina, along with artists such as Maria Laboda, Martha Rosler, and Naeem Mohaiemen. They expressed their discontent with Poland’s culture minister for appointing Piotr Bernatowicz as the head of the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art without a fair selection process, especially after recent issues at the Arsenal Municipal Gallery in Poznań. In Brazil, Roberto Alvim was promoted to secretary of culture after being appointed by Bolsonaro. Meanwhile, in Norway, heritage groups protested the planned demolition of the Y-Blokka building, a 1969 design by Erling Viksjo, after appeals against this decision were denied.
Key facts
- Over 1,400 arts professionals signed an open letter against Piotr Bernatowicz's appointment as director of Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw.
- The appointment was made without an open competition by Poland's minister of culture and national heritage.
- Bernatowicz's previous role at Arsenal Municipal Gallery in Poznań caused conflict with his curatorial team and alienated the local artistic community.
- Piotr Gliński, a member of the right-wing populist Law and Justice party, is Poland's culture minister and deputy prime minister.
- Roberto Alvim was promoted to secretary of culture in Brazil after serving as director of theatre, dance, and opera at the National Arts Foundation.
- Alvim claimed persecution by the left-wing arts establishment and compared his fight to Crusaders defending Judeo-Christian values.
- Norway plans to demolish the Y-Blokka building in Oslo, designed by Erling Viksjo in 1969 with Picasso murals, due to damage from the 2011 terrorist attack.
- Hanna Geiran stated the demolition is the greatest loss of a cultural heritage monument in Norway since World War II.
Entities
Artists
- Charles Esche
- Krist Gruithuijsen
- Ekaterina Degot
- Cosmin Costina
- Maria Laboda
- Martha Rosler
- Naeem Mohaiemen
- Piotr Bernatowicz
- Piotr Gliński
- Roberto Alvim
- Erling Viksjo
- Picasso
- Hanna Geiran
Institutions
- Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art
- Arsenal Municipal Gallery
- Law and Justice party
- National Arts Foundation
- Associated Press
- Norwegian Directorate of Cultural Heritage
- ArtReview
Locations
- Warsaw
- Poland
- Poznań
- Brazil
- Oslo
- Norway