ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Afterall Journal Issue 36 Explores Marginality, Autism, and Artistic Practices Beyond Centers

publication · 2026-04-20

The 36th issue of Afterall Journal, released on June 26, 2014, under the editorship of Melissa Gronlund and Held Vilalta, delves into artistic endeavors that challenge conventional norms from marginalized perspectives. The foreword highlights the work of poet Fernand Deligny, who, during the late 1960s, established homes for autistic children in France, employing visual methods to decode gestures and advocating for neurodiversity. This issue draws parallels between Deligny’s techniques and Alejandra Riera’s 'Enquête sure le/notre dehors' (2007), showcasing artists such as Zachary Cahill, Philip von Zweck, Panamarenko, Nilbar Güres, and Carla Zaccagnini. It also addresses ethical considerations in dissemination related to the Radical Group and reflects on Afterall's publishing contributions. Deligny's impact is acknowledged in Imogen Stidworthy's proposed project for the 31st Bienal de São Paulo and Wu Tsang's 2008 video referencing Amanda Baggs.

Key facts

  • Afterall Journal Issue 36 was published on 26 June 2014.
  • The issue is edited by Melissa Gronlund and Held Vilalta.
  • Fernand Deligny established a network for autistic children in the Cévennes, France, in the late 1960s.
  • Deligny's work emerged from his involvement with La Grande Cordée, an organization for 'difficult teenagers'.
  • Alejandra Riera's project 'Enquête sure le/notre dehors' began in 2007.
  • Panamarenko retired from art-making in 2005.
  • The Radical Painters and Sculptors Association formed in the late 1980s in India.
  • Laboratoire AGIT'art and Tenq were active in Dakar during the 1990s.

Entities

Artists

  • Melissa Gronlund
  • Held Vilalta
  • Fernand Deligny
  • Andrea Büttner
  • Alejandra Riera
  • Zachary Cahill
  • Philip von Zweck
  • Panamarenko
  • Hans Theys
  • Nilbar Güres
  • Mihnea Mircan
  • Carla Zaccagnini
  • Emma Hedditch
  • Anita Dube
  • Shanay Jhaveri
  • K.P. Krishnakumar
  • Clémentine Deliss
  • Imogen Stidworthy
  • Amanda Baggs
  • Wu Tsang

Institutions

  • Afterall Journal
  • La Grande Cordée
  • Radical Painters and Sculptors Association
  • Laboratoire AGIT'art
  • Tenq
  • 31st Bienal de São Paulo

Locations

  • Armentières
  • France
  • Cévennes
  • Antwerp
  • Belgium
  • Kerala
  • India
  • Dakar
  • Senegal
  • Vienna
  • Austria
  • Turkey
  • São Paulo
  • Brazil

Sources