The two days of the ms², inauguration will be dedicated to discussion panels, in which Ewa Franus, Jarosław Lubiak, Silvia Kolbowski, Ulrich Krempel, Nicolaus Schafhausen and Andrzej Turowski will take part . Issues significant from the point of view of Muzeum Sztuki will become a starting point for an discussion on matters widely debated in the international arena. The range of topics in question will be determined by complex relation between avant-garde manifesting its anti-institutional character and official spaces in which avant-garde art functions.
Consequences resulting from such dependence that appear crucial for contemporary museums will become a central point of conference. Loads of factors contributed to creation of false image and petrified schemes when discussing the problems of avant-garde. Efforts made by historians of art to retell the history and avant-garde experience have been gradually reflected in conceptions of presenting art.
Due to the inauguration of Katarzyna Kobro / Lygia Clark exhibition, guests of the conference will focus on the matter of reinterpreting avant-garde in the area of contemporary museological practices. There will also appear questions about curators’ limits of formulating unusual theses and experimental methods of work with the collection. Another space of discussion will indicate the issue of Neoplasticism Room, build up in 1948 in present Muzeum’s building, by Władysław Strzemiński. Strzemiński’s aim was to create a modern space to show constructivist art. Transfer of collection to the ms² building raises questions about a status of avant-garde art and its context produced by museum. Due to the project Art Always has Its Consequences, the importance of avant-garde for contemporary artistic practices will be the third issue to discuss. Some ways of continuation, as well as modes of contesting the role of the 20^th century largest movement are going to be highlighted.
The activity of the museums collecting the 20^th century art represents a significant element of discussion upon the heritage of avant-garde. The conference will focus on problems lively discussed in the international area of museology, and therefore important for Muzeum Sztuki in Lodz.

21.11.2008 (Friday), 2 – 5 p.m.
Avant-garde Confronting Museum. Panelists: Silvia Kolbowski, Jarosław Lubiak, Nicolaus Schafhausen. Moderator: Luiza Nader
22.11.2008 (Saturday), 11 a.m. – 1.30 p.m.
The Space of Museum / The Place of Avant-garde. Panelists: Ewa Franus, Ulrich Krempel, Andrzej Turowski. Moderator: Gabriela Świtek