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20/9/2013

Measures of Saving the World

Rotor, Graz

"It is a lot easier to imagine the world ending than to changing for the better"
John Jordan

Participating artists:
Christian Eisenberger, Tue Greenfort, Johanna Kirsch, Lada Nakonechna, Greg Sholette & participants of the Imaginary Archive

Curated by Margarethe Makovec & Anton Lederer

The discussion-ending argument of neoliberalism whereby there is no alternative may now be regarded as outdated. “There is no alternative” was yesterday. Today the opposite is true: “There are thousands of alternatives!” Of course, this raises other questions: if all paths are open, what course should we follow to overcome the prevailing economic system and its profound crises? Is it better to bring about small changes step by step? Or, in view of the extent of the global problems, consider radical change instead?
One approach emerges as castle in the air, unfeasible, while the other simply follows well-worn tracks and makes too many compromises. On the other hand, major progress often only becomes possible as a result of radical thought! But how many utopias have never even come near to implementation?

From curator statement

(...)
From the part of artists too, there are continuously significant and serious impulses in the discourse circling around alternative approaches to our behavior in the world. The artist and activist John Jordan, who has acquired renown for his activities as a critic of globalization, is one of these visionaries and takes up the concept of Nowtopianism—the art of the future performed in the present. According to him, a fundamental rethink is necessary for a new, conscious and careful way to deal with the world and as a consequence thereof art that affects every area of life—art that “embeds itself in our homes and offices, shapes our meetings and gatherings, suffuses our bedrooms and kitchens, designs our celebrations and resistance, organizes our villages and cities”.

Apart from wording utopias (or nowtopias), art can first and foremost communicate responsibility and permanent protest against the status quo. Radical thought, analysis and criticism of civilization, solidarity action, empowerment and individual directions—realized in both contextually and esthetically powerful artifacts may rightly be expected from artists dealing with questions of alternatives in their works.

The range of topics the artists will work on is diverse and encompasses ecology and economy, politics and society with a focus on the following aspects: resources, environmental protection, recycling, sustainability, energy, mobility, consumerism, responsibility, redistribution, empowerment, self-organization, solidarity.

Margarethe Makovec & Anton Lederer

Coproduction steirischer herbst festival

Image: Johanna Kirsch, from the project My Name is Ape, 2012

Press contact:
Eva Meran +43 316 688306 eva.meran@mur.at

Opening of the exhibition on Saturday, 21st of September 2013, 4 pm
The exhibition is open on that day from 11am to until at least 10pm

rotor center for contemporary art
Volksgartenstraße 6a, A 8020 Graz
Hours: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed on Sundays and bank holidays
Extended opening hours during steirischer herbst festival: 22.9. – 13.10.2013: SAT & SUN 11 am - 6pm
Admission free

stampa

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