Curating Socialism
A Handbook of International Art Exhibitions 1947-1989
Will be published approx. on 2. June 2026
Book
Hardback
448 pages
978-1-4875-5296-1 (ISBN)
Description
Curating Socialism takes a rare look into the world of international art exhibitions organized by socialist states between 1947-1989.
The handbook examines the mechanisms, relationships, and international agreements that enabled the organization of officially sponsored and state-organized art exhibitions after the Second World War. Apart from viewing such exhibitions as instances of Cold War diplomacy and propaganda, this book proposes a shift in the way readers view the Cold War, away from an emphasis on separation and opposition to a focus on cultural exchange and international solidarity. Throughout the book, art historians and visual culture experts provide contextual information about the main institutional actors who were responsible for organizing these exhibitions, and the personal as well as institutional or diplomatic channels involved in their hosting and curation. Despite their many differences, the shows explored in this book gesture to the notion of a socialist curatorial aesthetic in the shadow of the Cold War.
Curating Socialism demonstrates how socialist exhibition culture developed, sometimes competing with, and sometimes cooperating with Western art worlds.
The handbook examines the mechanisms, relationships, and international agreements that enabled the organization of officially sponsored and state-organized art exhibitions after the Second World War. Apart from viewing such exhibitions as instances of Cold War diplomacy and propaganda, this book proposes a shift in the way readers view the Cold War, away from an emphasis on separation and opposition to a focus on cultural exchange and international solidarity. Throughout the book, art historians and visual culture experts provide contextual information about the main institutional actors who were responsible for organizing these exhibitions, and the personal as well as institutional or diplomatic channels involved in their hosting and curation. Despite their many differences, the shows explored in this book gesture to the notion of a socialist curatorial aesthetic in the shadow of the Cold War.
Curating Socialism demonstrates how socialist exhibition culture developed, sometimes competing with, and sometimes cooperating with Western art worlds.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
137 illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 191 mm
Weight
1 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4875-5296-1 (9781487552961)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Sven Spieker is professor of Russian and East European art and culture at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Polly Savage is senior lecturer in the art history of Africa at SOAS, University of London.
Bojana Videkanic is associate professor of visual culture and contemporary art at the University of Waterloo.
Christene d'Anca is a lecturer in the writing program at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Polly Savage is senior lecturer in the art history of Africa at SOAS, University of London.
Bojana Videkanic is associate professor of visual culture and contemporary art at the University of Waterloo.
Christene d'Anca is a lecturer in the writing program at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Content
Acknowledgments
How to Use this Handbook
Thematic Table of Contents
Introduction
Sven Spieker, based on contributions from Delinda Collier, Zsuzsa Laszlo, Anneka Lenssen, Daniel Muzyczuk, Cristian Nae, Polly Savage, Gabriela Switek, and Bojana Videkanic
1. Paintings by National Artists of the USSR: Palace Zofin, Prague, April 12 - May 11, 1947
Milan Pech
2. The Yugoslav Pavilion at the XXV Venice Biennale: National Pavilion of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, Giardini della Biennale, Venice, June 3 - October 15, 1950
Ana Eres
3. The Soviet Fine Arts Exhibition: All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, New Delhi, March-April, 1952
Sanjukta Sunderason
4. Korea for Freedom: National Salon, Budapest, April 15 - late May 1953
Douglas Gabriel and Adrienn Kacsor
5. International Fine Arts Exhibitions at the 4th World Festival of Youth and Students: National Museum of Art, Bucharest, August 2 - August 16, 1953
Cristian Nae
6. International Exhibition of Young Art at the 5th World Festival of Youth and Students for Peace and Friendship: Central Bureau of Art Exhibitions (Zacheta Gallery), Warsaw, August 3 - August 15, 1955
Gabriela Switek
7. All-Poland Exhibition of Young Art Against War - Against Fascism: Arsenal, Warsaw, July 21 - September 15, 1955
Gabriela Switek
8. Pablo Picasso: Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow, October 26 - mid-November 1956
Kirill Chunikhin
10. The Exhibition of Socialist Countries: Central Exhibition Hall, Moscow, December 1958 - Spring 1959
Matteo Bertele
9. People's Republic of China Section, Art Exhibition of Socialist Countries: Central Exhibition Hall, Moscow, December 1958 - Spring 1959
Christine I. Ho
11. Soviet Exhibition of Science, Technology and Culture: New York Coliseum, New York City, June 30 - August 10, 1959
Julia Bailey
12. Iraqi Art Exhibition: State Museum of Oriental Art, Moscow, July 21 - August 20, 1959
Olga Nefedova
13. Czechoslovak Glass: Central Exhibition Hall [Manege], Moscow, August 1 - November 30, 1959
Terezie Nekvindova
14. The Yugoslav Pavilion at the Turin International Labor Exhibition: Labor Palace [Palazzo del Lavoro], Turin, May 1 - October 31, 1961
Vladimir Kulic
15. Henry Moore: Ernst Museum, Budapest, October 21 - November 3, 1961
Daniel Veri
16. Cuban Painting: Manes Exhibition Hall, Prague, April 20 - May 1962
Ernesto Menendez
17. Exposition of the Socialist Industrial Sector: Port of Algiers, Algeria, April 1964
Anneka Lenssen
18. The Exhibition of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Art from the GDR: Casa Scanteii, Bucharest, October 6 -November 1964
Irina Caraba?
19. The Biennial of the Baltic Sea Countries: Kunsthalle Rostock, Rostock, 1965-1989
Elke Neumann
20. Trends and Confrontations: Palais de Justice, First World Festival of Negro Arts, Dakar March 30 - April 24, 1966
Joshua I. Cohen
21. Czechoslovak Contemporary Art: Akademie der Kuenste, West-Berlin, July 17 - August 21, 1966
Terezie Nekvindova
22. New Art of the Times of the October Revolution: Galeria Wspolczesna, Warsaw, September 29 - December 15, 1967
David Crowley
23. Triennale of World Contemporary Art: Lalit Kala Academy and National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, February 10 - March 31, 1968
Rashmi Viswanathan
24. Aleksei Shmarinov: Soviet Cultural Center, Beirut, May 22 - May 24, 1968
Masha Kirasirova
25. Rent Collection Courtyard: Palace of Culture, Tirana, April 28 - June, 1968
Vivian Li
26. The Tallinn Print Triennial: Tallinn Art Hall, Tallinn, July 22 - August 1, 1968
Wiktor Komorowski
27. The Off-PANAF: Alternative Exhibits at the Pan-African Festival of Algiers, Algiers, Algeria, July 21 - August 1, 1969
Paraska Tolan-Szkilnik
28. St. Jauby-Jovanovics-Lakner-Miklos-Pauer-Tot (Budapeszt): Galeria Foksal, Warsaw, May 1972
Zsuzsa Laszlo
29. The Meeting of Plastic Artists of the Southern Cone: Institute for Latin American Art, Santiago, May 3 and May 15, 1972
Karen Benezra
30. Renato Guttuso: Academy of Arts of the USSR, Moscow, October 19 - Mid-November 1972
Matteo Bertele
31. Intergrafik 73: Altes Museum, Berlin [German Democratic Republic], July 28 - October 7, 1973
Kathleen Reinhardt and Annabel Ruckdeschel
32. 20 Realists from Soviet Latvia [IKI Third International Market for Contemporary Art]: Messegelaende, Duesseldorf, September 29 ? October 7, 1973
Ieva Astahovska
33. Hu Xian Peasant Art Exhibition: China Art Gallery, Beijing, October 1 - October 20, 1973
Angie Chang Baecker
34. The People's War of Liberation in the Work of Yugoslav Artists: La Galerie Mohamed Racim, Algiers, June 5 - June 30, 1975
Bojana Videkanic
35. Inji Efflatoun, Exhibition of Paintings: House of the Union of Artists of the USSR, Moscow, November 1975
Maria Mileeva
36. Constructivism in Poland, 1923-1936: The Museum of Modern Art, New York, January 30 - March 25, 1976
Magdalena Moskalewicz
37. Contemporary Art of Ghana: Museum of African Art, Belgrade, July 2 - August 5, 1980
Natasa Jagdhuhn
38. Afewerk Tekle: Socialist Ethiopia: Pushkin Museum, Moscow and Russian State Museum, Leningrad, September 1980
Kate Cowcher
39. Art Toward Social Development: An Exhibition of South African Art: Botswana National Museum and Art Gallery and the Anglican Cathedral, Gaborone, Botswana, June 10 - August 10, 1982
Polly Savage
40. Presences Polonaises. Living Art from the Lodz Museum. Witkiewicz. Constructivism, Contemporary Artists: Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, June 23 - September 26, 1983
Daniel Muzyczuk
41. Malangatana Valente Ngwenya: National Art Museum, Maputo, June 28 - July 20, 1986
Richard Gray
42. Art and Revolution. Russian-Soviet Art 1910-1932: Palace of Exhibitions, Budapest, November 5, 1987 - January. 17, 1988
Eva Forgacs
43. Third Havana Biennial: Havana, October 27 - December 31, 1989
Delina Collier
44. Stone Carving from Zimbabwe: Neue Berliner Galerie at Altes Museum, Berlin [German Democratic Republic], February 1 - February 19, 1989
Romuald Tchibozo
Glossary
Author Bios
Index
How to Use this Handbook
Thematic Table of Contents
Introduction
Sven Spieker, based on contributions from Delinda Collier, Zsuzsa Laszlo, Anneka Lenssen, Daniel Muzyczuk, Cristian Nae, Polly Savage, Gabriela Switek, and Bojana Videkanic
1. Paintings by National Artists of the USSR: Palace Zofin, Prague, April 12 - May 11, 1947
Milan Pech
2. The Yugoslav Pavilion at the XXV Venice Biennale: National Pavilion of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, Giardini della Biennale, Venice, June 3 - October 15, 1950
Ana Eres
3. The Soviet Fine Arts Exhibition: All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, New Delhi, March-April, 1952
Sanjukta Sunderason
4. Korea for Freedom: National Salon, Budapest, April 15 - late May 1953
Douglas Gabriel and Adrienn Kacsor
5. International Fine Arts Exhibitions at the 4th World Festival of Youth and Students: National Museum of Art, Bucharest, August 2 - August 16, 1953
Cristian Nae
6. International Exhibition of Young Art at the 5th World Festival of Youth and Students for Peace and Friendship: Central Bureau of Art Exhibitions (Zacheta Gallery), Warsaw, August 3 - August 15, 1955
Gabriela Switek
7. All-Poland Exhibition of Young Art Against War - Against Fascism: Arsenal, Warsaw, July 21 - September 15, 1955
Gabriela Switek
8. Pablo Picasso: Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow, October 26 - mid-November 1956
Kirill Chunikhin
10. The Exhibition of Socialist Countries: Central Exhibition Hall, Moscow, December 1958 - Spring 1959
Matteo Bertele
9. People's Republic of China Section, Art Exhibition of Socialist Countries: Central Exhibition Hall, Moscow, December 1958 - Spring 1959
Christine I. Ho
11. Soviet Exhibition of Science, Technology and Culture: New York Coliseum, New York City, June 30 - August 10, 1959
Julia Bailey
12. Iraqi Art Exhibition: State Museum of Oriental Art, Moscow, July 21 - August 20, 1959
Olga Nefedova
13. Czechoslovak Glass: Central Exhibition Hall [Manege], Moscow, August 1 - November 30, 1959
Terezie Nekvindova
14. The Yugoslav Pavilion at the Turin International Labor Exhibition: Labor Palace [Palazzo del Lavoro], Turin, May 1 - October 31, 1961
Vladimir Kulic
15. Henry Moore: Ernst Museum, Budapest, October 21 - November 3, 1961
Daniel Veri
16. Cuban Painting: Manes Exhibition Hall, Prague, April 20 - May 1962
Ernesto Menendez
17. Exposition of the Socialist Industrial Sector: Port of Algiers, Algeria, April 1964
Anneka Lenssen
18. The Exhibition of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Art from the GDR: Casa Scanteii, Bucharest, October 6 -November 1964
Irina Caraba?
19. The Biennial of the Baltic Sea Countries: Kunsthalle Rostock, Rostock, 1965-1989
Elke Neumann
20. Trends and Confrontations: Palais de Justice, First World Festival of Negro Arts, Dakar March 30 - April 24, 1966
Joshua I. Cohen
21. Czechoslovak Contemporary Art: Akademie der Kuenste, West-Berlin, July 17 - August 21, 1966
Terezie Nekvindova
22. New Art of the Times of the October Revolution: Galeria Wspolczesna, Warsaw, September 29 - December 15, 1967
David Crowley
23. Triennale of World Contemporary Art: Lalit Kala Academy and National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, February 10 - March 31, 1968
Rashmi Viswanathan
24. Aleksei Shmarinov: Soviet Cultural Center, Beirut, May 22 - May 24, 1968
Masha Kirasirova
25. Rent Collection Courtyard: Palace of Culture, Tirana, April 28 - June, 1968
Vivian Li
26. The Tallinn Print Triennial: Tallinn Art Hall, Tallinn, July 22 - August 1, 1968
Wiktor Komorowski
27. The Off-PANAF: Alternative Exhibits at the Pan-African Festival of Algiers, Algiers, Algeria, July 21 - August 1, 1969
Paraska Tolan-Szkilnik
28. St. Jauby-Jovanovics-Lakner-Miklos-Pauer-Tot (Budapeszt): Galeria Foksal, Warsaw, May 1972
Zsuzsa Laszlo
29. The Meeting of Plastic Artists of the Southern Cone: Institute for Latin American Art, Santiago, May 3 and May 15, 1972
Karen Benezra
30. Renato Guttuso: Academy of Arts of the USSR, Moscow, October 19 - Mid-November 1972
Matteo Bertele
31. Intergrafik 73: Altes Museum, Berlin [German Democratic Republic], July 28 - October 7, 1973
Kathleen Reinhardt and Annabel Ruckdeschel
32. 20 Realists from Soviet Latvia [IKI Third International Market for Contemporary Art]: Messegelaende, Duesseldorf, September 29 ? October 7, 1973
Ieva Astahovska
33. Hu Xian Peasant Art Exhibition: China Art Gallery, Beijing, October 1 - October 20, 1973
Angie Chang Baecker
34. The People's War of Liberation in the Work of Yugoslav Artists: La Galerie Mohamed Racim, Algiers, June 5 - June 30, 1975
Bojana Videkanic
35. Inji Efflatoun, Exhibition of Paintings: House of the Union of Artists of the USSR, Moscow, November 1975
Maria Mileeva
36. Constructivism in Poland, 1923-1936: The Museum of Modern Art, New York, January 30 - March 25, 1976
Magdalena Moskalewicz
37. Contemporary Art of Ghana: Museum of African Art, Belgrade, July 2 - August 5, 1980
Natasa Jagdhuhn
38. Afewerk Tekle: Socialist Ethiopia: Pushkin Museum, Moscow and Russian State Museum, Leningrad, September 1980
Kate Cowcher
39. Art Toward Social Development: An Exhibition of South African Art: Botswana National Museum and Art Gallery and the Anglican Cathedral, Gaborone, Botswana, June 10 - August 10, 1982
Polly Savage
40. Presences Polonaises. Living Art from the Lodz Museum. Witkiewicz. Constructivism, Contemporary Artists: Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, June 23 - September 26, 1983
Daniel Muzyczuk
41. Malangatana Valente Ngwenya: National Art Museum, Maputo, June 28 - July 20, 1986
Richard Gray
42. Art and Revolution. Russian-Soviet Art 1910-1932: Palace of Exhibitions, Budapest, November 5, 1987 - January. 17, 1988
Eva Forgacs
43. Third Havana Biennial: Havana, October 27 - December 31, 1989
Delina Collier
44. Stone Carving from Zimbabwe: Neue Berliner Galerie at Altes Museum, Berlin [German Democratic Republic], February 1 - February 19, 1989
Romuald Tchibozo
Glossary
Author Bios
Index