Liverpool Biennial 2004

The third Liverpool Biennial, the UK's international festival of contemporary art, launches on 18 September and runs until 28 November. The character and culture of Liverpool lie at the heart of the Biennial, which is delivered in association with the city’s major visual arts organisations Tate Liverpool, The Walker, Bluecoat Art Centre and the Foundation for Art & Creative Technology (FACT), as well as smaller galleries and some surprising alternative spaces. Energy and creativity define the Biennial’s programme through the four key strands of International 04, John Moores 23, Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2004 and The Independent.

International 04

International 04 - is an acclaimed exhibition showing significant new works by international artists and commissioned especially for the city. This strand is the critical focus of the Biennial and for 2004 the curatorial process once again presents a unique model, involving collaboration between many individuals and organisations. The process began in May 2003 with a dialogue between international artists and researchers, with local artists, artist-led groups, arts organisations and community groups. Four international researchers were invited to Liverpool to examine the city as a context for the exhibition: Sabine Breitwieser (Vienna), Yu Yeon Kim (New York), Cuauhtemoc Medina (Mexico City) and Apinan Poshyananda (Bangkok). They each recommended artists they felt would have some affinity for the culture of Liverpool and those artists were invited to Liverpool by the Biennial, to research and experience the city. In response to their research visits 45 artists have presented proposals for new work for International 04. These proposals are now being developed in a conversation between the artist, Liverpool Biennial and the exhibition venue or site that will host the project. The final list of artists and the commissioning of the works will depend upon the outcome of this conversation and over the next months you are invited to receive regular updates through our newsletter.

Ursula Biemann, Yael Bartana, Luis Camnitzer, Paolo Canevari, Amanda Coogan, Marysia Lewandowska & Neil Cummings, Dias & Riedweg, Maria Eichhorn, Carl Michael von Hausswolff, Satch Hoyt, Huang Yong Ping, Sanja Ivekovic, Francesco Jodice, Peter Johannson, Yeondoo Jung, Werner Kaligofsky, Germaine Koh, Andreja Kuluncic, Oswaldo Macia, Jill Magid, Inigo Manglano-Ovalle, Esko Männikkö, Dorit Margreiter, Cildo Meireles, Takashi Murakami, Yoko Ono, Mathias Poledna, Marjetica Potrc, Raqs Media Collective, Navin Rawanchaikul, Martha Rosler, Santiago Sierra, Valeska Soares, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Yang Fudong ... Researchers: Sabine Breitweiser, Yu Yeon Kim, Cuauhtémoc Medina, Apinan Poshyananda Orte: Tate Liverpool; Bluecoat Arts Centre; Openeye Gallery, Liverpool; FACT Liverpool; u.a.

Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2004

Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2004 offers a significant launch pad for emerging artists, a choice selection of the exceptional. This year, the lift-off for burgeoning careers takes place in a spectacular new project space, The Coach Shed. Acquired by the afoundation for the longer-term, the building has been specially converted into a stunning temporary exhibition space where you can witness the energies, ideas, potential and promise of the next generation of artists. Every year, New Contemporaries showcases the work of fine art graduates, selected from a national submission from UK art schools. The 2004 show features the work of 32 artists, selected from a submission of over 1200. Immerse yourself in a dynamic mix of media, including film, video, drawing, painting, photography, performance and sculpture. Step inside the building and you will find everything from the carefully considered to the startlingly impetuous. A life-size Bendy Bus is parked in the space, making reference to the building’s original purpose. Discreet photographs of the glow of light on a petrol station forecourt. A manic sketchbook of intensely detailed psychedelic biro-drawings. The tension between an elderly married couple subtly captured in a compelling film. Sponsored by Bloomberg and Arts Council.

Oliver Bancroft, Thomas Bangsted, David Blandy, Margarita Bofiliou, Dave Carbone, Lali Chetwynd, Petros Chrisostomou, Joe Clark, James Connelly, Tessa Farmer, Oriana Fox, Sarah Gilder, Anton Goldenstein, Mauricio Guillen, Thomas Hylander, Yvonne Jones, Samson Kambalu, Ahn Kang-hyun, Karoly Kesaru, Heidi Kilpelainen, Steven Lowery, Nicky Magliulo, Gary McDonald, Sarah Michael, Thomas Needham, Robert Nichol, David Rowland, Michael Sailstorfer, Margaret Salmon, Heiko Tiemann, Douglas White, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye Selectors: Kate Bush (Kuratorin), Dinos Chapman (Jake & Dinos Chapman), Tacita Dean, Brian Griffiths

John Moores 23 the Walker , William Brown Street, L3

Radiant or restrained, abstract or portrait, fiercely polemic or cryogenically cool: the scope and diversity of the 1901 entries for this year’s John Moores 23 exhibition of contemporary painting were astonishing. The only common factors in the paintings submitted are that they are original recent works made by someone who lives, or works, in the United Kingdom. This year’s judges are: Ann Bukantas, the Walker’s curator of fine art; Jarvis Cocker, musician and contemporary art collector; Gill Hedley, director of the Contemporary Art Society; former John Moores prizewinner Callum Innes; and artist Gavin Turk. After considering every entry on slides, the judges shortlisted more than 400 works which were brought to a Liverpool warehouse. The judges spent three days looking at the original works before choosing the overall winner, other prizewinners and those selected for the exhibition. The first prize is £25,000 and there are four prizes of £2,500 each. The winners will be announced at the opening of Liverpool Biennial. You can have your say too: there will be a £1,000 ‘visitors’ choice’ prize, announced at the end of the exhibition. Littlewoods founder Sir John Moores, a keen painter, started the exhibition in 1957. It is now supported by his family through the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition Trust.

Judges: Ann Bukantas, Jarvis Cocker, Gill Hedley, Callum Innes, Gavin Turk

Independent

Independent artists and curators present a rich diversity of shows across the city - in galleries, on the streets, in shop windows and in renovated buildings. The many exhibitions offer a lively and intriguing counterpoint to International 04. Established and emerging British, UK regional and international artists will show works, which will surprise, engage and challenge. The shows are initiated by the afoundation and independent artists and curators. From August onwards the programme listing for Independents 04 will be available in the What’s On and Events section of this website. Further information about the projects, artists and exhibitions in Independents 04 will be available on the afoundation website (www.afoundation.com).