Discussing the Ethics and Economics of Art
A day-long symposium (Saturday, May 12), a workshop by Burak Arıkan (Wednesday, May 9), and Homework Screenings of Documenta IV (1967) and V (1972) by Jef Cornelis and of Prisoner’s Dilemma (1974) by the artist Richard Serra (May 9-13) make up the first edition of Everyone for Themselves.
Session I Contemporary Art and its Commercial Markets A Report on Current Conditions and Future Scenarios
Key topics to be explored during Everyone for Themselves are the accelerated relationship between the art-market and public funding; the shaping of freedom as an ideological illusion, and the deliberate programming of choices.
Is it possible to track, follow, and make transparent the flow of capital in the contemporary art world? What are the ethical frameworks of operation in the behind-the-scenes of various institutions, biennales, Documentas, and art fairs, and how are they shaped and informed by the crisis now? Can we draw conclusions on what is being produced, in which context it is being produced, and on what becomes visible and what remains disguised? What is the distinct role of the market-both historical, current, and future- in all of this, and how is our perception influenced, directed and created by the “power-players” in the art world as well as the decisions of politicians?
As cyclical crises as in the early 1980’s in the Netherlands have popped up time and again, almost as a ‘natural’ part of economic dynamics, resulting in renewed demands for hybrid models that reinforce neo-liberal paradigms and solutions for the public domain, and as the cuts in arts funding are about hit the country at the start of 2013 again, different players in the cultural field are set in a new relation to each other, in a shared arena of competition, confronted with the choice to compete or collaborate. Prisoners Dilemma, a film by the artist Richard Serra made in 1974, where the concept from game theory is used, and the upcoming publication New Games by writer Pamela Lee, who reflects on interactivity in contemporary art in terms of the principles of game theory, and its relation to current debates on the political and the social against the backdrop of neo-liberalism form the main points of departure for Everyone for Themselves, a new platform dedicated to the research, presentation, and discussion of economic and ethical developments in the contemporary art scene.
Everyone for Themselves is initiated by artists Bik Van der Pol and Jan van de Pavert, and developed in collaboration with Liesbeth Levy (Artistic Director, De Unie) and Defne Ayas (Director, Witte de With, Centre for Contemporary Art). It also marks the first of the series of collaborative events and workshops, dedicated to the research, presentation, and discussion of economic and ethical developments in the contemporary art scene on a larger platform. Everyone for Themselves is ‘adopted’ by AND AND AND, an artist run initiative which will use the time before dOCUMENTA (13) in 2011 and 2012 to consider with individuals and groups across the world the role art and culture can play today and the constituent publics or communities which could be addressed. The series of interventions, situations, and occurrences entitled AND AND AND are part of dOCUMENTA (13) and will compose a map of emergent positions, concerns, and possible points of solidarity.
Everyone for Themselves will take place at De Unie (www.deunie.nu), a reconstruction of J.J.P. Oud’s café, and a platform for debate, art and culture, and Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art (www.wdw.nl), an international public institution in Rotterdam. Established in 1990, Witte de With explores developments in contemporary art worldwide and presents this through exhibitions, theoretical and educational programs, public events and publications.
EVERYONE FOR THEMSELVES
Discussing the Ethics and Economics of Art
PROGRAM
SYMPOSIUM, May 12, 11-7 pm
11 AM
Introduction
11:30 AM- 1 PM
Session I: Contemporary Art and its Commercial Markets: A Report on Current Conditions and Future Scenarios
Location: De Unie
Taking its title from a recent book edited by Maria Lind and Olav Velthuis, this session explores the increasing commercialization of the art market via gallery networks, collectors, art fairs, the internet, and auction houses, as well as the increased competition between all parties that increasingly point out the globalization and networked commercialization of the art world. Presenters include: Maria Lind (writer and independent curator, Director of Tensta Konsthall, Stockholm), Stefano Baia Curioni (economic historian, director of the Arts, Cultures, Media and Entertainment Master at Bocconi University), Andrea Phillips (writer and curator, and Director of Research Programmes, Goldsmiths College, London). The session is moderated by Huib Haye van der Werf (curator, SKOR).
1.30 PM
Walk to Witte de With, Center for Contemporary Art
BROWNBAG LUNCH served
2.20 PM-4 PM
Session II: Power and the Formation of Contemporaneity: Cornelis’ Documenta documentaries.
Location: Witte de With, Center for Contemporary Art
According to Jef Cornelis, Documenta V (1972) was the exhibition that signaled to the commercialization of the art world and could be seen as an ‘every man for himself’ attitude, while Documenta IV and V marked the rise of the curator as a leading figure in the art scene. Cornelis’ documentaries on Documenta IV (1967) and V (1972) express his concerns with regards to conflicts of interests between involved parties and the power they could exert. Lecture by Koen Brams (former Director of Jan van Eyck Academy), with Adam Kleinman (writer, curator, and dOCUMENTA (13) Agent for Public Programming) as respondent, and moderated by Huib Haye van der Werf (Curator, SKOR).
Walk to De Unie
5 PM-6.45 PM
Session III: Prisoner’s Dilemma, Choices, The Element of Play.
Location: De Unie
What happens in a casual exercise in arbitrary power? Who gets to really decide for themselves in this polarized political climate? Are we all being manipulated into doing what the government wants and into a form of surrender to authority?
Lecture by Bart van Rosmalen (Associate Lecturer, interdisciplinarity and open innovation at ArtEZ, Arnhem), with Andrea Phillips (writer and curator, and director of Research Programmes, Goldsmiths, London) and Adam Kleinman (writer, curator, and dOCUMENTA (13) Agent for Public Programming) as respondents, and moderated by Huib Haye van der Werf (Curator, SKOR).