On June 12, the second ABCD of 2025 on the topic of 'ART Bridges Baltic' took place at the Nordkolleg in Rendsburg, Germany. This event featured artists and current residents with ARS BALTICA Oksana Yushko and Arthur Bondar and led to an intimate exchange with a small group of artists from Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg. The two featured artists reflect on the exchange.
The ABCD event organised by ARS BALTICA strongly resonates with our experience and the artistic practice we develop these days. It proved to be a truly inspiring encounter and exchange with German artists and cultural workers. Some of them we knew before, others were entirely new to us. Bärbel Praun, whom we had met before through a previous residency at Atelier Josepha, introduced us to aspects of her current practice that were both familiar and surprising. Susanne J. Koch and Silke Lazarević from 'The Moving Suitcase' project (an artist group of 13 Danish and German artists working together across the border) presented their work in a most original way: a compact presentation packed into a single suitcase. It was an inspiring journey through their entire creative process, revealing how their ongoing engagement with themes of borders and cultural exchange between German and Danish art communities deeply echoed our own reflections in projects like 'A Bridge Too Far'.
Borders, both literal and bureaucratic, often interrupt the natural flow of human connection. Yet, friendship and artistic collaboration can traverse these limits. As a natural continuation of the ABCD 'ART Bridges Baltic' Oksana Yushko and I presented and gave a guided tour on our exhibition 'A Bridge Too Far' located at the Nordkolleg and around the city. The resulting artistic and curatorial walks were not only intellectually stimulating but emotionally grounding. The informal, friendly atmosphere encouraged an open dialogue and exchange. This format—a balance of project presentation and genuine interpersonal connection—is ideal for planting the seeds of future collaboration and friendship, and building “new bridges” between various cultural actors. In this way, artistic encounters become microcosms of the borderless world we hope to build through care, creativity, and community.
Text by Arthur Bondar
Following the motto 'Empowering Lasting Cultural Exchange Grounded in Shared Local Perspectives', the ABCD format was established and has been maintained successfully for multiple years in the countries bordering the Baltic Sea. The pandemic brought this meaningful exchange to a halt before in the second half of last year, ARS BALTICA was able to begin starting the format up again, aiming to reestablish it on a regular basis, ideally supported by further funding.
The next ABCD will take place in August / September and also be hosted in Schleswig-Holstein. Future editions are planned be set in other parts of Germany and further countries around the Baltic Sea. Stay tuned for more details!
