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Censored works shown
for the first time in the
City of Freedom – London.

IV Passion for Freedom London Festival 2012 presents artists who dare to take action next door to Tate Modern

For the fourth time the annual festival will take place at the Unit24 Gallery on London’s South Bank. Artists from 30 countries around the world have entered their work into the competition this year. During the festival the works of 36 artists will be shown from countries spanning the globe including Cuba, Pakistan, China, Poland, Afghanistan, UK, Italy and USA.

“Artists using mediums such as video, installation, painting and sculpture openly debate issues that are usually swept under the carpet.’ It is important to remember that our society takes freedom for granted. Being interested in ‘the next big thing’ we forget that what we have was fought for and has to be protected.” – says Agnieszka Kolek, KM Curator.

The exhibition’s message comes across strongly with Sarah Maple’s work “Inaction is a weapon of mass destruction”. Invited to be a Special Guest Artist, Sarah decided to confront the viewer with their own reflection. ‘It is like everyone can be an activist in their everyday lives through small acts.’ – says Sarah.

“Real change comes about by challenging and dissenting not by appeasement and silence. It comes about by breaking taboos and pushing aside that which is deemed sacred and art is such an important way of doing this. As Ai Wei Wei says, “if we don’t push, nothing changes.” says Maryam Namazie, One Law for All’s Spokesperson.

‘We should have no illusion that Twitter or Facebook will free us.’ –says Marianna Fox, Assistant Curator. ‘On Friday, 9 November there is a special screening of “Ai Weiwei Never Sorry” documentary by Alison Klayman. It shows how even in a global village connected through social media Chinese authorities could persecute the artist by beating him up in secret detention, bulldozing his newly built studio and limiting his access to the outside world. Artists, such as Ai Weiwei pay the highest price for making meaningful art. ’ – comments Marianna.

The Festival does not only promote art dissidents from aboard. ‘There is an eminent danger that our society is censoring itself without obvious totalitarian states imposing laws upon us.’ – says Agnieszka.

‘Many galleries were afraid to exhibit my installation “PO. Box to Allah” in their spaces. I have never given up hope to make a statement on freedom of religion and freedom of speech wherever on earth people will be.’ – says Johan van der Dong, artist from Holland.

This year’s festival has got a strong video presence. To highlight a few Liz Gascoigne’s ‘No Spring without Women’ is hypnotic while Paul Harrison’s work “The Sea of Parity”, who graduated only in 2011, leaves the viewer with the strongest image possible.

One Law for All’s Passion for Freedom is non partisan and voluntary organization gathering professionals working in arts and media. The first edition of non-profit London Festival took place in 2009. The annual celebration of Freedom takes place in a spacious, contemporary gallery next to Tate Modern.

Shortlisted artists: Amiri Hangama, Osailys Milian Avila, Maureen Bachaus, Eskild Beck, Azadeh Behroozi, Eliza Bennett, Gary Betts, John Bonafede, Elisabeth Sarianne Breuker, Victoria Burgher, An Deceuninck, Fiona Dent, Johan van der Dong, Alice Eikelpoth, Ferri Farahmandi, Luciana Franzolin, Liz Gascoigne, Helen Gorrill, Georges Hala, Paul Harrison, Haleh Jamali & Monica de Ioanni, Joy Johnson, Matthew Lloyd, Peter Leigh, Michael Massaro, Wendy Nelson, Renato Niemis, Pacorrosa Cuevas Rosa, Abdullah Qureshi, Ricky Romain, Sausan Saulat, Schgor Francesca, Maria Strzelecka, Stephanie Taugner, Al Teleki, Matylda Tracewska

UNIT24 Gallery

Private View: 3 November 6.30 – 9.30pm

RSVP:

Exhibition runs: 3 – 10 November

Opening times: Mon – Fri 9 – 6pm Sat 10-2pm

One Law for All http://www.onelawforall.org.uk/

Passion for Freedom passionforfreedom.co.uk

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