Intimacy and Spectacle - 2009–2012

Intersection: Intimacy and Spectacle is a special international project of the Prague Quadrennial that explores space as creator of audience/viewer and art/performance relationship and performance as an important element of different art and cultural disciplines, focusing on performance design and scenography as interdisciplinary field. The project will consist of two important parts: theoretical discussions as well as interactive installations and performances.

Theoretical symposia are being held in Zurich, Riga, Amsterdam, Belgrade and Evora, where leading theorists and artists are being brought together to explore contemporary performance design in relation to various artistic and cultural as well as different forms and uses of performance from three different points of view: audience, artists and curators.  

The main event - the interactive installation/performance - will take place during the Prague Quadrennial in 2011, and will present thirty projects working with performance and performance design.  These projects will encompass a wide variety of forms and disciplines, housed in thirty white cubes / black boxes.  The event will showcase scenographers, installation artists, theatre companies, video artists, fashion designers, and architects from all over the world. Performances in public spaces will also be part of this event, and will illuminate the contrast between the intimate relationship of spectators and art inside the cubes, and the spectacle outside the cubes.  Accompanying these events will be panel discussions, presentations, lectures and costume shows, and a series of workshops for fifteen hundred students of theatre and visual arts from around the world.

Intersection also includes Scenofest, educational project organized by OISTAT and the Prague Quadrennial, including workshops, lectures and performances Main goal of Scenofest project is to create an opportunity for students and young artists from all over the world to meet and exchange ideas as well as to interact with some of the top professionals in the field. Open Laboratory is another educational part of Intersection exploring contemporary spaces for performance, a workshop for post-graduate students. Light and Sound is a special project of Intersection focusing on lighting and sound design presentations, workshops, as well as installations, and an exhibition.

Individual projects will also be presented at festivals in Hungary, Serbia, Latvia, Norway, Great Britain, Italy, Estonia, Finland and Portugal during 2011 and 2012.

This project is made possible with the support of the Culture Programme of the European Union.