Don't Worry - Be Curious!

The social, political and economic reality in Europe today is radically changing. For many Europeans, the restructuring has led to the perceived loss of national homeland, disintegration of stable social relationships, and a growing individualization, accompanied by increased unemployment, passivity and political lethargy. The citizens of northern Europe have experienced this upheaval as a crisis that has befallen their welfare state, while eastern Europeans regard it as a consequence of capitalism that filled the void following the collapse of socialism. Through photos, videos and installations, artists from five eastern and five northern European countries addressed the common problems and diverse fears facing the citizens of their countries based on the complex question: Which forms of action are best suited to critically analyse social problems and how can one actively confront collective fears? The exhibition and accompanying conferences and artist-in-residence programme were presented at the 4th Ars Baltica Triennial of Photographic Art in Kiel, and later in Tallinn (Estonia) and Pori (Finland).

Curators: Dorothee Bienert, Kati Kivinen (FIN), Enrico Lunghi (L)
Artists: Petra Bauer (S), Anna Baumgart (PL), Olga Chernysheva (RUS), Bodil Furu (N), Kaspars Goba (LV), Kristina Inèûraitë (LT), J&K (Janne Schäfer & Kristin Agergaard (D/DK)), Tellervo Kalleinen & Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen (FIN/D), Anu Pennanen (FIN), Tanja N. Poulsen (DK), Khaled Ramadan & Colonel (DK), Katrin Tees (EST), Arturas Valiauga (LT), Julita Wójcik (PL) and others

Venues and schedule:
Stadtgalerie Kiel, 30 Mar. - 28 May 2007
KUMU, Estonian Art Museum, Tallinn (EST), 10 Aug. - 23 Sep. 2007
Pori Art Museum (FIN), 12 Oct. 2007 - 20 Jan. 2008