Archives of the Ephemeral: Art, Time, and Transience
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April 8, 2025, CFZ Cultural Flow Zone, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy
The Ca’ Foscari University of Venice's conference will explore the theme of preserving ephemeral artworks from two different perspectives. Firstly, we will discuss works that were designed to be temporary and exist only for a short period of time, or under specific circumstances. These include artworks that were created with an awareness of their impermanence.
Secondly, we will examine artworks that became ephemeral due to external factors, such as precarious circumstances of creation, such as works by artists living in exile or unstable environments. These artists often face resource and visibility challenges, creating works that may become lost without a long-term preservation strategy.
As part of the first session, "Time-Based Art: how to preserve what is temporary?", a presentation will be given by Anna Frants, Elena Gubanova, and Alexandra Dementieva, showcasing selected works from the CYLAND MediaArtLab collection. The presentation will also include a screening of a curated selection of works from the CYLAND Video Archive. CYLAND Video Archive Program
Pim Zwier (Netherlands) All what is somehow useful / Alles Was Irgendwie Nützt, 2013
A multitude of animals brought together in a rhythmical sequence of photographs. The images blend together similar to the cross breeding of animals. An accumulation of bygone days, captured in photos, in which the animals are replaceable, but the same employees frequently reappear.
Years of studies and experiments on animals are reduced to a few images per second. The outcome of the research derived from the image or remains a mystery. Seeing is comparing; discovering similarities or differences, seeking for an ideal, gratification of curiosity, optimising utilisation.
‘Alles was Irgendwie Nützt’ is based on the historical glass plate photograph collection ‘Julius Kühn’ of the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg.
Pim Zwier is an independent media-artist / film maker. He obtained his MFA at the Piet Zwart Institute in Rotterdam in 2003. The artist makes documentaries, short films and video-installations. his films balance between documentary, experimental film and media-art. Zwier’s films and video installations were shown at different international festivals, exhibitions, and on television.
Heejeong Jeong (South Korea) Sweet Home, 2021
Alexander Terebenin (Russia) 1959—2021 Horizon Line, 2009
Learn more > Organised by the Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage, The Centre for Studies in Russian Art - CSAR, and Mapping Diaspora