Art & Language Reflects on 1968 Protests, Conceptual Art's Institutional Critique and Neoliberal Co-option

The protests in Paris during 1968 were fueled by worldwide dissent against the Vietnam War, although members of Art & Language do not consider themselves soixante-huitards. Their artistic practice developed from student activism at Coventry College of Art around 1969, drawing inspiration from the accessibility of American Modernism. Conceptual art challenged Modernist narratives, with Art & Language rejecting the notions of European authenticity and the romanticized artist. Anonymity was embraced in various ways. Following the 1969 launch of Art-Language, efforts to transform art education hierarchies sparked student pushback, leading to a conservative backlash and the termination of part-time staff in 1972. By the mid-1970s, cultural critique began to align with managerial frameworks, as neoliberal capitalism emerged, professionalizing artists and curators. Nevertheless, resistance persists, indicating a glimmer of hope.