AGITATING THE STATUS QUO
Activism in art and curatorship
This course was born from the reflections of recent years on the evolution of art as an active subject of society, able to take part in cultural and social transformations and to practically agitate the status quo of our normality, with the aim to question the power structures of our interconnected present. While on the one hand street activism has evolved its communication strategies by making the communicative language of art its own, the art world has reacted by focusing the spotlight on the emerging issues of our times, with a view that is not only critical but political and finding inspiration in the images and forms of the protest. What can be the role of art in a fragile and changing present like the one we are experiencing? What are the possible ways to take part in it in a way that goes beyond the mere representation?

This course is aimed at artists and curators, but also researchers from different social fields who want to deepen their knowledge of political art and the role of artists and curators as an active part in the critical transformation of contemporary society. The convergences between the sphere of activism and that of art will be analyzed, through case studies of artists active on the political front with their practice. We will critically observe the phenomenon of aestheticization in traditional activism and try to define the differences between artistic activism and political art.

The aim of the course is to originate a critical thought in the practice of curatorship and art, undermining the role of the artist from creator of images to active figure in social transformations, through a continuous comparison between the participants and with artists invited to share their vision during online video lessons.

The course, structured in four modules, will alternate moments of deepening and sharing  with others of practical exercises for the creation and confrontation of contents.

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