April 12, 2012
Key words such as “knowledge production“ or “artistic research“ have become ubiquitous in the artistic and curatorial field. However, they confront us with a real dilemma: On the one hand, knowledge is the main resource of late capitalism, and the production of new knowledge in “critical“ and “creative“ ways is therefore compatible with neoliberal governementality. On the other hand, critical knowledge production and emancipatory research have always been an integral part of activist practices and anti-capitalist movements and, today, are more prevalent than ever. Rather than denying the emancipatory value of knowledge production, we have to come to terms with the fact that it might be, at the very same time, both critical of and complicit with capitalism. For this reason it is important that artistic research remains articulated with the activist practices of social movements. It has to take account of the newly developed democratic strategies of knowledge production in both horizontal and transversal ways. Horizontal, because these strategies are based on the premise of equality and the expertise of every single activist. Transversal, because they cut through the disciplinary boundaries of academia and disturb the dividing lines between legitimate and illegitimate forms of knowledge. The panel will examine these strategies on the meeting point of art, science and activism.
The discussion is organized in collaboration with ecm–educating, curating, managing–Masters Program for exhibition theory and practice at the University of Applied arts Vienna.