The curators of Sequences XI announced

The 11th edition of Sequences will take place in October 2023. Marika Agu, Maria Arusoo, Kaarin Kiviähk and Sten Ojave are this edition’s curators,who work together at the Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), based in Tallinn, Estonia. The curatorial collective was appointed as the next festival’s curators through the selection process of an open call.

The curatorial collective is formed by four Estonian based curators and writers: Marika Agu, Maria Arusoo, Kaarin Kivirähk and Sten Ojavee who have worked together since 2017 at the CCA. More clearly, they defined their platform in a collectively curated exhibition A-tishoo, A-tishoo, We All Fall Down (2019) which exhibited in EKKM, the Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia. Other than this, they have curated and organized lecture series, seminars, article series, public art projects, video events. As curators they have different backgrounds, coming from artistic practice, social theory, philosophy, art history and semiotics. They have teamed up to bring together different experiences and ways of thinking, to save resources and reduce overproduction. They believe that working together rather than as individuals allows us to create more sustainable models of working and brings more comprehensive results.

The starting point of the concept is uncertainty which has become the main parameter of our contemporary condition. How can an art festival acknowledge this very situation to propose a dynamic research and artistic work which would lead us to the more sustainable and forward looking working methods to achieve an open-for-all form for coming together where we could enjoy common space and shared energy?

“We completely understand and embrace our position as outsiders to Icelandic art scene,” the curators say, “Thus we hope to offer a diversity of readings and interpretations of the local field from the viewpoint of the visitor but also from the viewpoint of someone who is returning to Iceland as we would like to work with international artists who have worked in residencies or have had some other connection with the field already beforehand. Along with the new commissions we are honoring the existing works and bringing them back to circulation.”

Estonian CCA is a non-profit expert institution in international cooperation projects in Estonia. Throughout the years CCA has organized and curated international art events in Estonia and abroad.

Sequences is an artist run biennial in Reykjavík. The aim of the festival is to produce and present progressive visual art. Amongst previous exhibiting artists are: Elísabet Jökulsdóttir, Philip Jeck, Miruna Roxana Dragan, Joan Jonas, David Horvitz, Agnes Martin, Hekla Dögg Jónsdóttir, Guido van der Werve, Ragnar Kjartansson, Emily Wardill, Roger Ackling, Margrét H. Blöndal, Carolee Schneemann, Rebecca Erin Moran, Finnbogi Pétursson and Alicja Kwade.

Past editions have been curated by local and international artists/curators, amongst others Þóranna Dögg Björnsdóttir (IS) and Þráinn Hjálmarsson (IS), Hildigunnur Birgisdóttir (IS) and Ingólfur Arnarsson (IS), Margot Norton (New Museum, NY) and Alfredo Cramerotti (dir. Mostyn, Wales).

Founding members of Sequences are artist run Kling & Bang galleri (est. 2003), the Living Art Museum (est. 1978) and the Icelandic Art Center, that together with artists active in the local art scene at each time, run the festival. Sequences is a non-profit organisation.

Sequences art festival will be held for the 11th time in October 2023. The festival’s overarching theme and curatorial concept will be announced in the coming months.