LESS Festival of Contemporary Collage Art

About

US AS WE SET A NEW STAGE TO CELEBRATE COLLAGE ART AND PRACTICE, AND INSPIRE NEW VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE ART FORM.

Set in the picturesque town of Viborg – the oldest town in Denmark. LESS festival looks to elevate the history, present and future of Contemporary Collage Art and artistic community. For two weeks Viborg will be transformed by collage art – presenting vibrant and exciting immersive exhibitions including in ‘pop-up’ gallery spaces, architectural facades, and public installations. Launching in this time of immense social change, our first festival will present a series of installations, available to view alone, or in small groups. and exploring new ways with with to connect with art in our ever-changing world. 

Our inaugural artists will present twelve international artists working across print, installation and moving image. In the historic Old Town Hall we will present an exhibition of archive work by influential artist Penny Slinger; and LESS Founder Sergei Sviatchenko’s new series ‘Gentle Double Melody of Nature’, a homage to local Danish landscape painter P.C. Skovegaard.. Throughout Viborg present facade installations by Nico Krijno [SA], Lucia Pizanni [Brazil/UK],  K Young [UK], Anna Bu Kliewer [GER/UK], James Springall [UK], Juliet Casella [FR], DR. ME [UK], Karen ann Donnachie & Andy Simionato [AUS], Kirsten Otzen Keck [DK]; video performance by Noriko Okaku [JP/UK]

LESS festival aims to celebrate how art can transform our visual, urban and mental landscapes; and set a platform for a new comment for contemporary collage art and practice. The festival was conceived by the influential Danish-Ukrainian artist Sergei Sviatchenko, who has worked in Viborg, Denmark since 1990. The festival is co-curated with Faye Dowling, London, and with art direction by James Greenhow/NEW.AGENCY. 

Conceived before pandemic, our theme of ‘NUTOPIA' now invites new contemplation. When the tectonic plates of our civilisation shift, we have room for consideration of how nature and community grounds us; and embrace that art provides us purpose and connection, in the most challenging of times.  

LESS Festival of Contemporary Collage Art is part of Viborg cultural commitment as a member of UNESCO creative cities. LESS is founded by influential collage artist Sergei Sviatchenko and a group of business leaders in Viborg municipality. LESS is funded with the generous support of Viborg Kommune, Østjysk Vækstbånd, the Danish Ministry of Culture through Den Jyske Kunst Fond and local and national businesses. 

For more information please contact Curator Faye Dowling or Festival  Manager Lars Hamann at info@lessfestivalofcollage.com  / www.lessfestivalofcollage.com