U-TURN Quadrennial for Contemporary Art

U-TURN Quadrennial for Contemporary Art is the first international festival for contemporary art to be held in Denmark. On September 5, U-TURN will open with performances, public interventions and exhibitions in various venues throughout the city of Copenhagen. The main exhibition will be held on the grounds of the former Carlsberg brewery, inside the old tap factory Tap E , as well as in the Academy garden, open to the public for the first time. In the city centre, Nikolaj CCAC will serve as a second venue. The exhibition continues outside on streets, squares, walls and in the harbour with a total of twelve public art projects . Several other art projects will be realized in collaboration with a wide range of institutions such as Camp X , Cinemateket , Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek and Takkelloftet (The Opera). Furthermore the exhibition Food for Thought opens at Stege Sugar Factory 26 July and runs through to 14 September.

U-TURN is a performative turn - a turn marking a radical change of direction and orientation. It is not a matter of returning to origins but of moving in new directions and creating situations where something new can occur. U-TURN is also a turning point for contemporary art in Denmark. During the course of the 70-day exhibition, visitors will be introduced to the work of more than 70 artists, the majority never having exhibited in Denmark before. During the quadrennial, an extensive programme of activities will invite visitors to debates, performances, screenings, concerts and workshops. The quadrennial runs through to 9 November.

U-TURN Quadrennial for Contemporary Art is curated by Charlotte Bagger Brandt, Solvej Helweg Ovesen, and Judith Schwarzbart, who together in 2006 won a competition initiated by the Danish Arts Council for the establishment of a festival for contemporary art in Denmark.

Jan Mancuska, fragment of Asynchronies History, True Story - Jana's Story by 2004, laser cut aluminum, steel cable. Dimensions variable.
(foto fra: Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam)