Viečaryna with art collective from Zburazh, Belarus
25 April 2024, 17:00–21:00 / Casco HQ
Lange Nieuwstraat 7, 3512 PA Utrecht, Netherlands
Join us at Casco Art Institute: Working for the Commons for an evening with Zburazh art cooperation and the Rural School of Economics network. This gathering offers a unique opportunity to learn and hear captivating stories, sample local food from the village of Zburazh, and explore the complex histories of Belarus with members of the collective.
Located in the southern region of Belarus, near the borders with the EU and Ukraine, Zburazh has evolved into a shared infrastructure for knowledge building and exchange among artists, designers, photographers, and cultural workers. Despite the challenging political climate in Belarus, marked by censorship and proximity to war zones, the art group has found inspiration in the village’s rich heritage, including its old wooden houses. Drawing from the local people, landscape, traditions, and beliefs, they have created a nurturing environment for collaboration.
The collective regularly convenes in the village, where some of the artists reside, to host workshops, experiment with new art techniques, take walks in the forests and swamps, cook local food, and share their thoughts and concerns at the table. Zburazh serves as a cherished escape—a timeless space where they can more freely practice art, learn from and support each other, and be nurtured by their surroundings.
We envision our evening together—referred to as ‘viečaryna’ in Belarusian—as a careful space for dialogue, storytelling, shared experiences, and the discovery of commonalities!
Zburazh art cooperation is part of the Rural School of Economics network organized by Myvillages from 2020. Previously, Zburazh textile project was shown at Rural School of Economics exhibition at Het Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam (2022), and some of the products from Zburazh were available at vending machines at Hübner at documenta fifteen and in International village shop at Springhornhof Kunstverein (2023). Find more information about the collective on their website and Instagram.
