The Other City > what became of modernist housing

While „grand narratives” have often failed, some of their applications still stand and take part in our lives. It is the case of postwar modernist housing projects, which continue to have a massive presence not only in ex-communist countries, but in most cities of Europe and the United States.

The site of urban legends and pop culture references the world over—from American gang violence, hip hop music, and horror flicks to the most idealistic and chilling stories of social life in the late Soviet block—the histories, problems, and inhabitants of these urban enclaves often stay hidden behind their high concrete or brick walls. Public opinion has deemed housing projects bad and inhuman, remnants of 20th-century urban planning’s failures and relics of totalitarian culture. Still, the occasional demolition of such a building complex evokes some kind of public gloom or moral unease.

„The Other City” – an international exhibition hosted in two venues – deals with ideologies behind public housing projects, the conditions they have provided for their inhabitants, as well as the agenda of those who support or criticize them. The Romanian Gallery will show works that deal with social reality, everyday situations, and personal narratives, while the Hungarian Cultural Center will address housing projects from a historical and ideological perspective.

Artists featured in the Hungarian Cultural Center: Zbyněk Baladrán, Terence Gower, Florin Tudor & Mona Vatamanu, Ágnes Dénes / Zsolt Keserue / Levente Polyák / Borbála Szalai, Société Réaliste, Michael Rakowitz, Pia Rönicke, Miklós Mécs.

Artists featured in the Romanian Cultural Institute: Mircea Cantor, Miklós Erhardt, Mircea Munteanu, Tadej Pogačar, Józef Robakowski, Sarolta Szabó.

In partnership with the Hungarian Cultural Center and the Consulate General of Slovenia.