Manifesta 10


End of June 2014 the much discussed tenth edition of Manifesta, the European biennial of contemporary art, began in St. Petersburg. It maintained itself for the 120 days until its closure on 31 October. 2014 marked the twentieth anninversary of the biennial which was initiated in response to the new political, social and cultural reality that surfaced in the aftermath of the Cold War. This edition tried to reevaluate these past years of shifting and changing experiences, realities and transformations. Located primarily at the Winter Palace and General Staff Building of the State Hermitage Museum, Manifesta held also various satellite events at different locations around the city. This edition’s goal was to give the public the opportunity to experience and learn about the geopolitical history of St. Petersburg and the Hermitage, as well as the various positions within contemporary art, amidst significant art historical works of the museum’s collection.

Due to the political situation of these last few years in Russia and Ukraine, the concern of the biennial’s survival was more than legitimate. A boycott was out of the question. The Manifesta Foundation believed the biennial could really mean something in this complex situation. For them art provided an opportunity to resistance, reflection and intellectual discussion.

Until the end of the show there wasn’t any censorship. There were several scenarios that could have jeopardized the survival and existence of this year’s biennial: a severe escalation of the situation in Ukraine; several of the projects could have provoked riots due to their content; the possibility that when an artist is censored other participating artists will withdraw out of solidarity. This last scenario was not unthinkable given that many of the participating artists reflected in their work especially on the current situation and often elicit provocation.

Manifesta 10

The State Hermitage Museum and various venues across St. Petersburg

28 June – 31 October 2014

manifesta10

Hermitage