When art and culture collide!

After about 7 months of preparation, the big day has finally arrived on May 20 at 5 p.m.: the ZUKUNFTSVISIONEN2017 is opening its doors!

A lot has happened since the retreat weekend in November, when the team decided together on the theme of this year’s exhibition—“illusionen.verfallen.” A venue was found—the former Jewish department store Totschek on Steinstraße—artists were selected by an expert jury, performers for the supporting program were invited, the building was cleaned, rearranged, secured, and measured—and now it’s almost time to get started!

The exhibition of contemporary art encompasses a wide range of forms of expression. Festival visitors can expect installations, photographs, drawings, and paintings, as well as sculpture and media art. The 20 artists from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Iran, Macedonia, Russia, the United Kingdom, and Mexico have explored a wide variety of facets of illusions, dreams, and ideals, as well as power, encounters, and imagination. In several cases, the exhibition building has been heavily integrated into the artistic work. There will be installations that incorporate the space and its essence; in some cases, the artists have even visited Steinstraße themselves and engaged with the atmosphere of the premises. In some instances, very specific materials were chosen as the subject of exploration; for example, there will be artworks that engage with objects such as pieces of wood or sheer pantyhose. But themes such as the relationship between humans and animals, as well as the connection between illusions and the GDR era, also play a role in ZUKUNFTSVISIONEN.

In addition to the art forms mentioned above, there will also be several live performances, one of which will take place right at the opening reception on the first day of the festival week. Additional information is available during guided tours of the exhibition in German, English, and Polish. And anyone who would like to learn more about the ZUKUNFTSVISIONEN concept and the history of this now 11-year-old event can do so on a guided tour of the city. The tour highlights former ZuVi buildings and tells their stories—whether connected to or independent of ZuVi.

But there’s also a program on Steinstraße outside of exhibition hours. With live performances by bands and DJs, as well as cozy bar nights, ZuVi visitors can enjoy the exciting atmosphere in a building that once stood empty. Görlitz residents can also look forward to great collaborations, such as WORDKA (Germany’s easternmost poetry slam), the film club “von der Rolle e.V.” with its “Short Film Night” series, and the DJs from Champloo Music. They can get involved themselves in workshops on topics such as body painting or improvisational theater, as well as at the Open Stage, a platform for anyone who wants to showcase their talent. Another highlight will be the first reading of “Görlitz Legends Poetry.” For this event, a native of Görlitz has adapted local legends about the city into poetic form. He will recite these—along with an original poem of his own—accompanied by musical background at ZUKUNFTSVISIONEN.

The opening reception begins on May 20 at 5:00 p.m. and will feature speeches by the patron and artistic director of the Gerhardt-Hauptmann Theater in Zittau, Dorottty Szalma, a speech by Silke Wagler, jury member and director of the Art Fund of the Dresden State Art Collections, and remarks from the team, as well as a dance performance and a closing bar night with a DJ. Anyone interested is cordially invited to attend. The opening itself will take place on the ground floor of the building; anyone who would like to view the exhibition afterward can purchase tickets at the festival box office.

The ZUKUNFTSVISIONEN2017 team is looking forward to the week on Steinstraße and wishes all visitors a wonderful festival experience!