"only artists"

Little Warsaw

Only Artist by Little Warsaw (András Gálik and Bálint Havas) is dealing with artists activism, which raises from the actual situation of critical approaches to art making and exhibiting in Budapest. It is a research into the potential for independent thinking and possibilities for autonomous action.

Finally it is a work in progress, and a next step can be expected on March 7. Sparwasser HQ artist Lise Nellmann will join the local artist group Little Warsaw to discuss the contexts and practices of Budapest artist groups and networks.


Event: March 7. at 7 pm
"Only Artist", a project by Little Warsaw (András Gálik, Bálint Havas and Lise Nelleman)

FAQ for SPARWASSER HQ C/O TRAFO, to the audience

What is an artist run space?

Are artist run spaces in Budapest different from artist run spaces in Berlin?

Is there an important difference between an art institution and an artist run space?

Here and now in Trafo: why focus on artist and artist run culture - instead of making an exhibition?

Why should a general audience find an interest in this, that artists are looking at artists?

What does it mean, artist run culture?

Why would an artist replace a curator? Why this chaos?

The idea of the artists' independence is not possible anyhow, is it?

How and why would a group of artist talking to each other be able to replace an art work in an exhibition, which we, the audience, can look at and experience within our own mind?

Two projects in the exhibition "Only Artists" and "Old Habits Die Hard" are focusing on artists in the role of curators, while the other project "In Action" include all cultural producers, curators as well as artists. How would you explain this in-consequence?

FAQ to artists

Nationally, communication about art is traditionally represented by art critics and art historian books, which might not represent the interest and needs of artists and their audiences. Peer meetings, work presentations and artists talks, or (self-)organized seminars, workshops - and parties - are formats that organised artists use.

Are you inspired by your local critics? Do you need to talk with other artists in an open and non-competetive way? Are your fellow artists capable of evaluating your work? Can they/ you talk/ write? Do they have a network of colleges, friends and contacts that you would like to get to know / you have contacts to share?

Does your work have elements of communication with the world around you? Is it part of your work to announce it?

How does an artist run space or an artist collective work as a label, which is a recognisable sign for a certain expression/ interest/ product, or as a loose sturcture, where it is difficult to see/ it is not important, who is a member and who is not?

What is the aim of an artist run space?

When the aim is to raise communication, then who are the audience then?

Who are the audiences of an artist run space?

What kind of outreach programs do an artist run space typically practise/ not parctise: guided tours, educationanal programs, workshops, seminars, artists talks, platform activities, conferences, artist in residency program, funding of projects, production of catalogs, production of works, support to emerging artists, outreach to rural areas, where art audiences are rare and untrained.

What are typical areas of interest for artist run spaces, are there some sterotypes?

Are artist run spaces more locally or more international working?

Are artist run spaces working in a perifery, in nichen, are they representing a main stream, or are they trend setters?

Does artist run spaces always close after 3-6 years? Is the only sustainable way to institutionalize?

What can i learn from working with an artist run space?

Does managing a program of exhibitions replace my studio based practise?

...to be continued...