Theoretical and Activist Challenges to Artistic Solidarity in Contemporary Practice
In the realm of art, the pursuit of solidarity presents both a significant political goal and a formidable challenge. Art historian Caroline Jones sheds light on the often-overlooked contributions of uncredited labor, citing collaborations such as the Precarious Workers Brigade. The 'social turn' in the 1990s frequently fell short of establishing enduring networks of solidarity. A conference held at Tate Modern in 2019, titled 'Axis of Solidarity: Landmarks, Platforms, Futures', explored the role of art in bolstering solidarity movements. The erosion of political alliances since 1968, along with insights from thinkers like Richard Rorty and Slavoj Žižek, complicates this landscape. Meanwhile, recent initiatives like Liberate Tate's protest against BP and the joint award given to 2019 Turner Prize nominees reflect ongoing solidarity efforts within the art community.
Key facts
- Solidarity is an urgent but challenging political project in the art world.
- Caroline Jones critiques the 'romance of the studio', highlighting collaborative art production.
- The Precarious Workers Brigade exemplifies solidarity between artists and art workers.
- Art's 'social turn' in the 1990s failed to establish lasting solidarity networks.
- Tate Modern hosted the 'Axis of Solidarity' conference in February 2019.
- Richard Rorty's 1989 book 'Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity' explores solidarity without commonality.
- Jodi Dean's 'Solidarity of Strangers' (1996) defines conventional, affectional, and reflective solidarity.
- Liberate Tate successfully ended Tate's partnership with BP through collective acts of dissent.
Entities
Artists
- Caroline Jones
- Richard Rorty
- Slavoj Žižek
- Judith Butler
- Ernesto Laclau
- bell hooks
- Jodi Dean
Institutions
- Tate Modern
- Precarious Workers Brigade
- Creative Time
- 19th Biennale of Sydney
- Manifesta 10
- Turner Prize
- BP
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Sydney
- Australia
- Palestine