Festival Matrioshka presents ARTFORUM

ARTFORUM Big LOGO

On 28th October 1994, on the anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia, was opened the first store outside of Bratislava, a bookstore Arftorum, in Kosice. The opening was preceded by a visit of the owners of Artforum in Kosice, who were accompanied by a writer and publicist Martin Kasarda, a native of Kosice. That day, within a grim deadline of 3 weeks, was created “probably the most beautiful bookshop in Central Europe”. A unique interior of the shop from natural wood and annealed copper was implemented by an architect Oleg Šuk and a sculptor Ivan Novotny, and from the beginning, one could feel the presence of the underground community. The first vendors were employees from Bratislava branch, Peter Papek Paprčka and Karol Voleman. After a few weeks, a charismatic writer Ursula Kovalyk joined them. Up to this day an element part of it is an interim employee at the time and a student of physical education Martin Farkašovský. The symbol of this avant-garde shop is a winged bicycle from First Republic, which hangs under vaulted roof.

During his visit a philosopher Erazim Kohák said, that such a wide choice of philosophical literature one can not find in one place even in Prague. During difficult time of Meciar ’s authoritarian government, the Artforum became “an island of positive deviation", non confrontation and unbound freedom. Besides visits of writers and poets, it organised philosophical seminars and concerts. You could meet there, Egon Bondy, J. H. Krchovský, Dušan Mita, Egon and Fedor Gálovcov, Tomas Janovic or Stanislav Rakús and many more… They organised concerts of Plastic People, Dunaj, Garáž or later on within a window section,  a concert of Košice’s Kolowrat, Jelly Belly and son of Dežo Ursíny Jakub with his group Provisorium.

Jan Langoš once said, that the tangible result of November in Slovakia are three institutions:  Regtime radio, theater Stoka and bookstore Artforum. Two of them, and unfortunately  neither Jan Langoš, are no longer among us. Artforum still exists, thanks to its customers, who with time are turning from strangers into good friends and fellows. Thank you.

On Tuesday Kosice’s Artforum will celebrate its twenty years anniversary. It will be open all day for the customers and everyone will be able to buy the books with 20% Birthday discount.