Close Up #5: Institute of Model Nations
Thursday, April 7, 7PM
Auditorium of the Emilia Pavilion
Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, Emilii Plater 51
Convened, led by: Sebastian Cichocki, Meagan Down, Szymon Maliborski, Kuba Szreder
The fith meeting in the cycle Close Up will focus on the Institute of Model Nations, also presented at the exhibition Making Use. The show’s curatorial team commissioned the Institute in December 2015 as an effort to gather active examples of so-named “fictional states”; micronational projects declared independent entities by their founders yet afforded no official recognition by legitimized sovereign nations. The Kingdoms of Elgaland-Vargaland (est. 1992), NSK State (est. 1991), State of Sabotage (est. 2003), the Principality of Sealand (est. 1967), and the Republic of Zaqistan (est. 2005) are to be presented during the Close Up meeting, with each nation-project’s identity, culture, and customs; constitution and citizenship program; and visual identification such as heraldry and flags unpacked and discussed.
About the cycle
Weekly meetings are an occasion to engage more closely with the processes and practices presented at the exhibition Making Use. The Close Up model is intended to examine activity that works on a 1:1 scale and to review such practices as they intersect with the various fields of life. The meetings will steer clear of the lecture format, instead adopting a more open form of discussion, seminar, and workshop. The aim of the cycle is not only to gain a more profound understanding of the practices discussed, but also to activate and contextualize them. The cycle is conceptualized and convened by the curatorial team of Making Use. Select meetings will host other participants of the project.