BEZDOMNY -  NEW APARTMENTS FOR ART & LIFE IN GOTHENBURG

The group Bezdomny will present new angles to art and society during the fall of 2007. The events will take place in different apartments and will be formed in collaboration with the residents and the Bezdomny group.

Spring 2007, a diverse spectrum of 150 visitors gathered for the first official Bezdomny at the artist Stina Östberg‘s home in Gothenburg. They enjoyed not only the fact of finding a new place for sincere intellectual and social meetings but as well over 80 sculptures, big poets and activists, free drinks, music and more.

The Polish/Russian word Bezdomny means “without home”, in the meaning of a self chosen and happy exile. Bezdomny has its activities at home as you do in societies where censorship prevails. Our point of departure is the opening up for activism, art, discussions and meetings through the act of inviting people home and creating an allowing atmosphere. With art as one possible tool we aim to find working strategies for change. We also want to inspire others (and ourselves) to take part and open their homes and their minds and eventually act.

The artist group Bezdomny are: Magdalena Rapala, Stina Östberg, Staffan Hjalmarsson, Frida Yngström & Maria Karlsson, five artists who graduated from Valand School of Fine Arts 2006 and 2007.

Bezdomny-conferences took place the 23 of January and the 5th of February. We had two full days to evaluate the passed year and to define what we want to develop and achieve with our work in 2008.
Everyone had to draw a graph to show their passed personal and artistic development in the group, outside of the group and also make statements about visions for the future.

Staffan Hjalmarsson compared the group to a nutritious bread to share.