Boris Groys's 'Art Power' Critiques Market Dominance and Pluralism in Contemporary Art

Boris Groys's 2008 book 'Art Power,' published by MIT Press, argues that contemporary art is nearly synonymous with the art market, challenging critiques of commodification as reinforcing market power. The volume compiles fifteen essays, drawing inspiration from Walter Benjamin, with titles like 'The City in the Age of Touristic Reproduction' and 'Art in the Age of Biopolitics.' Groys critiques pluralism as hegemonic, noting that museum and biennial visitors seek curated images of contradictory trends, creating an illusion of infinite plurality. He proposes 'art atheism,' viewing artworks as documents rather than revered artefacts, and highlights a narrative turn where curators become artists profaning art. Groys's Hegelian approach links art to political propaganda, suggesting art reconnects with society by capturing absolute power. The review, written by Daniel Miller and published on ARTMargins Online in 2009, questions whether art must be publicly displayed and advocates for a post-conceptual practice beyond traditional roles.