Afterall Journal Issue 42 Explores Arte Útil, Institutional Critique, and Decolonization

The 42nd issue of Afterall Journal, released on 20 September 2016 and curated by Stephanie Smith, delves into Arte Útil, a concept introduced by Tania Bruguera, aimed at fostering social and political transformation. This exploration stems from dialogues held during the Arte Útil Summit 2016 at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima), where director Alistair Hudson raised concerns about the potential institutionalization of the Arte Útil archive. The journal features analyses of art's symbolic and practical functions, drawing on perspectives from Walter Benjamin and David Morris. Notable essays include contributions from Charles Stankievech on counterintelligence, Helena Vilalta regarding archival methods at SALT Galata, and Georgina Jackson discussing Abbas Akhavan. Additionally, performances by Arahmaiani and connections to Inji Efflatoun are highlighted, while the journal strengthens collaborations with M HKA and the University of Toronto, involving indigenous scholars.