History - Experince - Archive

Maska, vol. XXIII, no. 117–118, autumn 2008
History – Experience – Archive

Autumn issue of Maska “History – Experience – Archive” represents a contribution to the reflection on the concept of history and historiography and its use in the field of art practices. The texts by renowned authors such as Marta Verginella, Eda Čufer, Nataša Petrešin-Bachelez, Heike Roms, Franz Anton Cramer, Andre Lepecki, consider the thematic framework from various aspects, ranging from theoretical views on history and the problem of the oblivion/erasure of certain segments of the past from existent historical narratives to the studies of practical examples and the role of the historicization of art practices and the artistic manipulations of history, archives, and experiences. Through the treatment of history and archives along with individual and collective experiences, they establish a critical consideration of the past and collective memory that is always defined by the contingency of a set of circumstances and the dynamics of pressures, suppressions, and relaxations.
Historical awareness and the tradition of critical thinking and contemporary art creation in this issue is represented also with Brian Holmes contribution on the work of a progressive Croatian curatorial collective WHW (What How and for Whom), the winners of the Igor Zabel award for cultural achievements in the region of Central and Southeast Europe. Besides, the journal brings the reflections on the festivals Bitef and Transamerique.