This exhibition examines how performances attempted to break boundaries set by the communist state's politicians and censors, focusing on theater, music, and dance events that contested the prevailing totalitarian regime and anticipated the forthcoming political and social changes. As the revolutions in most Soviet bloc countries were not the result of a violent overthrow of power, art was one the main arenas where "the revolutionary" started to happen. Curated by Karen Burke, Assistant Chief, Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and Aniko Szucs, Ph.D. Candidate in Performance Studies at New York University.
In its illustration of the Romanian case, the exhibition includes materials documenting the "Wasted Morning", a memorable show staged by director Cătălina Buzoianu at Bulandra Theatre in Bucharest (1987‑1990), based on the celebrated novel by Gabriela Adamesteanu, which is linked to the communist disaster, censorship and the passage from the '80s to the '90s in Romania.
[Image: Poster of the "Wasted Morning" (1987), to be featured in the Romanian section of the exhibition. Courtesy of the artist Clara Tamas]
Nov 18, 2009 - March 20, 2010 OPENING: Nov 17 VINCENT ASTOR GALLERY
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023
[part of Performing Revolution]
Hours: Tues, Wed & Fri: 11 to 6; Mon, Thurs: 12 to 8; Sat: 10 to 6
FREE ADMISSION
