|
Debate
Saturday finished the first intensive part of the sym-
posium. Like in the beginning the symposium ended
in a debate. The subject for the debate was "Graphic
art and the audience". In the debate panel participated
artist Göta Svensson-Majland, Eva Arvidsson från
Konstfrämjandet, Anita Eriksson from Sveriges Konst-
föreningars Riksförbund (SKR), Roy Uddenberg, gallery-
owner from Gothenburg and Ia Holmstrand from House
of Graphic Art in Mariefred. Moderator of the debate
was artist Svenrobert Lundqvist.
The debate started with a small
historical flashback.
In the 70´s the demand for graphic art was high like
the production. In Sweden Konstfrämjandet had a
central position. Konstfrämjandet is an organisation
supported by goverment fonds that has the task to
reach a large audience with good art. The task also
involves educational parts which means that Konst-
främjandet shall serve the audience with material
concerning the quality of art.
SKR is the central organization for the
Artunions in
Sweden. The Artunions are the biggest buyers of art
in Sweden. SKR is also supported by some gover-
ment fonds. SKR has built a bank with graphic art
that serves private galleries.
The House of Graphic art in Mariefred is
a relatively
young organisation which shows graphic art in their
own gallery. They also arrange courses and confe-
rences. For their finance they must mainly rely on
private sponsors and their own selling.
Graphic art prospered on the private
gallerie market
in Sweden until the middle of the 90´s. Since then
the market has collapsed. Today its only possible
to sell graphic art from Swedish artists. Pehaps
this depends on the lower prices on Swedish graphic
art.
Could the decrease in interest in graphic
art be a
question of generations? Göta Svensson-Majland,
who is also a professor at the Academy of Fine Art
in Umeå, meant that young artists today doesn´t
look upon graphic art as a special part of the artworld.
They use all the technics they feel they need for the
moment. She doesn´t belive that graphic art today
is more set aside than it was in for ex. the 80´.
One can establish the fact that a rich
cultural life is
necessary in every society for the well being of people.
This means that there will always be a demand for
high quality art. Graphic art has the advantage that
its rather cheap. Perhaps the artists must learn to
market themselfs in a better way. Through EU it´s
possible to start projects crossing the national borders
which would expand the market. Pedagogical efforts to
increase the knowledge among the audience ought to
create a larger interest.
Media plays a central part. More
intensive reports from
the artworld in newspapers and TV would of course
result in moreinterest from the audience. Unfortunately
the interest from media seems to be rather low today.
A striking example is the low interest payed by media
to this symposium.
Breaking-up dinner
In the evening there was a banquet with food, drinks and
dancing to music by the eminent orchestra Stigs
Kvintet.
Exhibitions
The exhibitions continued until August 10. Graphic art
was shown in four galleries in Tidaholm and at Forsberg
Galleries in Härja just outside the town.
Curator for the exhibitions was
Svenrobert Lundqvist.
319 pieces of art made by 135 artists from 19 countries
were shown. The exhibitions were seen by 3.295
visitors during two weeks.
To get more information about the
4:th Lithographic
Symposium and the Lithographic Academy please
visit the english part of this website
here or contact
us on:
Litografiska Akademin
Grafiska verkstaden
Vulcanön
522 34 Tidaholm, Sweden
E-mail: lito@helliden.fhsk.se
Tele: +46 (0)502-143 34
 Back
to report-menue
|
