The cold war is over, and it made us even colder : art and artists between Eastern and Western Europe from 1945 until 2025
Hladna vojna je končana, nas pa je naredila še hladnejše : umetnost in umetniki med Vzhodno in Zahodno Evropo v letih od 1945 do 2025

english

2025

volume 13, issue 2

Slovenski gledališki inštitut (SLOGI)
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

The starting point for this article is the significant absence of Eastern European art and artists from major international art venues and narratives, highlighting their persistent marginalisation. It also reveals a systemic neglect of this region in the post–Cold War context, arguing for the reposition of Eastern European art as a critical element in understanding diverse European art practices, which traditionally suffer from a binary perspective that contrasts the neoliberal capitalist West with the postsocialist East. In her article, the author also discusses the historical context of artistic exchanges, asserting that Western art has long been perceived as universal while Eastern art has been relegated to the periphery, aspiring for recognition yet facing continual exclusion. In the aftermath of the Cold War, interest in Eastern European art gradually diminished, further alienating it from significant platforms like international biennials and exhibitions. Despite a small number of artists who gained noteworthy prominence, the broader narrative around Eastern European art remains limited, often only transiently featuring a few artists in Western art histories. The article calls for a reassessment of Eastern European art, particularly in light of the political and cultural upheavals that occurred in post–1989 Europe, which have continued to inform artistic practices and critical discourse into the 21st century. Notable references are made to several books that were published in the meantime. These books attempted to articulate the complexities of Eastern European art amidst significant geopolitical changes, aiming to bridge the gap in global art histories and recognition, although not always succeeding in it.

03.07.2026