"Ten Cities: The Past Is Present" by Wayne Johnston

For the English version, please scroll down.

Kanadski umjetnik Wayne Johnston u svom književnom performansu Deset gradova: Prošlost je sada predstavlja zapise i crteže koji istražuju odnos između sjećanja i mjesta. Nanovo posjećuje deset lokaliteta u deset gradova koji su na njegov život imali formativni utjecaj. Među tim je gradovima i Zagreb. Johnstonovi zapisi, koji su opisani kao poezija u prozi, dokumentaristička proza i priče s razglednica, teže otkriti kako mogu razgovarati prošlost i sadašnjost. Dosad je ovaj performans održan u New Yorku, Torontu, Accri (Gana) i Ženevi.

„Bilo je ovo hipnotičko i duboko iskustvo. Svaka kratka priča bila je poput razglednice iz prošlosti. Teška sjećanja obrađena su s jednakom važnošću kao i ugodni trenuci, a to je pripovijedanje učinilo još snažnijim. Nema prosudbi, samo svjedočenje o događajima koji su oblikovali život jednog pojedinca. Poželio sam da ih bude više."
(Daniel Lafrance, ilustrator i crtač, Toronto)

„Wayne nije čitao svoje radove, niti je imao prezentaciju svoje umjetnosti. Relevantnost ovog događanja je u sintezi dijelova, u gestaltu. Wayne je održao performans i to zapamtljiv."
(Martin Egblewogbe, ganski autor iz Accre)

„Kreativan, inovativan i iznimno osoban način prepoznavanja značaja kada prolazni trenuci i kratke interakcije u nečijem životu mogu imati tako dugotrajan i snažan utjecaj."
(Ajay Heble, autor i direktor Međunarodnog instituta za kritičke studije i improvizaciju u Guelphu)

„Sjajno! Duhovito i tužno, uznemirujuće i iznenađujuće. Tako dobro primjećuje ljude, njihove strasti i odnose."
(Robin Bergart, knjižničarka, Guelph)

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Zagreb is featured in Ten Cities: The Past Is Present which is a literary event, a performance by Canadian artist Wayne Johnston. He presents writings and drawings that explore the relationship between memory and place. He is revisiting ten sites in ten cities that have had a formative impact on his life. His writing, described as prose poetry, creative non-fiction and postcard stories, seeks to discover the conversations the past can have with the present. Previous presentations have been staged in New York City, Toronto, Accra (Ghana) and Geneva.

"It was a hypnotic and profound experience. Each brief story was like a postcard from the past. Difficult memories were treated with the same importance as the more pleasurable moments, making the telling all the more powerful. No judgement - just bearing witness to events that shaped the life of one individual. It left me wanting more."
Daniel Lafrance (Graphic Novel Illustrator and Storyboard Artist, Toronto)

"Wayne hadn't given a reading, nor had he given a powerpoint presentation of art work. The relevance of that afternoon's session was in a synthesis of parts: a gestalt. Wayne had given a performance. And it was memorable."
Martin Egblewogbe (Ghanaian Author, Accra)

"A creative, innnovative, and intensely personal way of validating how passing moments and short interactions from one’s life can have such a lasting and powerful impact."
Ajay Heble (Author and Director of the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation, Guelph)

"It's brilliant! It's funny, and sad, and unsettling and surprising. You observe other people and their passions and relationships so well."
Robin Bergart (librarian, Guelph)