Afterall Symposium Explores 1990s Social Turn in Exhibition-Making
On 30 April 2010, Tate Britain in London hosted a symposium entitled 'Art and the Social: Exhibitions of Contemporary Art in the 1990s', organized by Afterall as part of the Exhibition Histories initiative. The focus was on the social shift in exhibition practices in Europe and North America throughout the 1990s, highlighting themes of political activism, critiques of institutions, and socialization influenced by media. Discussions included terms like 'Kontext Kunst', 'social engagement', and 'relational aesthetics', with a spotlight on exhibitions outside conventional art venues. Notable speakers included Doug Ashford, Claire Bishop, and others. The event was co-organized with Central Saint Martins College, the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, and the Van Abbemuseum, supported by various institutions and part of the FORMER WEST project (2008-2013), funded by multiple foundations.
Key facts
- Symposium held at Tate Britain, London on 30 April 2010
- Organized by Afterall as part of the Exhibition Histories project
- Explored the social turn in 1990s exhibition-making in Europe and North America
- Topics included political activism, institutional critique, and media-influenced socialisation
- Speakers: Doug Ashford, Claire Bishop, Sabeth Buchmann, Charles Esche, Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt, Stéphanie Jeanjean, Renate Lorenz, Christian Philipp Müller, Stephan Schmidt-Wulffen
- Co-organized with Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, and Van Abbemuseum
- Supported by University of the Arts London, Institut Français du Royaume-Uni, and Goethe-Institut
- Part of FORMER WEST project (2008-2013) funded by Mondriaan Foundation, EU Culture Programme, European Cultural Foundation, and City of Utrecht
Entities
Artists
- Doug Ashford
- Claire Bishop
- Sabeth Buchmann
- Charles Esche
- Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt
- Stéphanie Jeanjean
- Renate Lorenz
- Christian Philipp Müller
- Stephan Schmidt-Wulffen
Institutions
- Afterall
- Tate Britain
- Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
- Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
- Van Abbemuseum
- University of the Arts London
- Institut Français du Royaume-Uni
- Goethe-Institut
- Mondriaan Foundation
- EU Culture Programme
- European Cultural Foundation
- City of Utrecht
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Europe
- North America
- Vienna
- Austria
- Eindhoven
- Netherlands
- Utrecht
Sources
- Afterall —