More Power
Museum de Fundatie, 03/30/2014 - 08/17/2014
ABOUT
Joseph Beuys often made the attempt to gain political power. The German artist and shaman was an enthusiastic preacher of the revolution and was involved in the foundation of at least three political parties during his career. As an artist this brought him a certain amount of fame, but outside the art world Beuys never managed to gain any real influence.
The exhibition titled More power is about this—still topical—quandary: to what extent can art play a role in society? Over the past few years we have witnessed an increasing number of artists wishing to exert their influence. They want to display their idealism, to improve the world. But they also realize that art is currently facing a dilemma. On the one hand, the art world is a kind of nature reserve within society, where great liberty abounds; artists are allowed more leeway than people in the 'real' world. But they have to pay a price for this: The world only tolerates their freedom because it is not necessary to attach practical consequences to artistic ideas. Artists primarily have the power to display new, stimulating, attractive images—but the actual achievement of change appears to be a bridge too far. However, artists do not readily accept this situation.
More power is principally concerned with the dilemma of present-day artists who wish to play a greater role in the modern world. How can you ensure that society notices your ideas? How can you, as an artist, make your work so forceful, so tempting, that the world cannot ignore it? Almost every artist in the More power exhibition, whether it be Steve McQueen, Ai Weiwei, Constant, Anselm Kiefer or Yael Bartana, is seeking a new attitude to the world, and sometimes even a new role for art in society. But they always do that, first and foremost, on the basis of their greatest strength: making artworks that you cannot disregard. Although they may doubt the necessity of power, they still believe in the power of art.
Image above: Yael Bartana, "Wenn Ihr wollt, ist es kein Traum," 2012. White neon. Installation view, Secession, Vienna, 2012. Photo: Oliver Ottenschläger. Courtesy Annet Gelink Gallery, Amsterdam & Sommer Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv and the artist.
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Joseph Beuys often made the attempt to gain political power. The German artist and shaman was an enthusiastic preacher of the revolution and was involved in the foundation of at least three political parties during his career. As an artist this brought him a certain amount of fame, but outside the art world Beuys never managed to gain any real influence.
The exhibition titled More power is about this—still topical—quandary: to what extent can art play a role in society? Over the past few years we have witnessed an increasing number of artists wishing to exert their influence. They want to display their idealism, to improve the world. But they also realize that art is currently facing a dilemma. On the one hand, the art world is a kind of nature reserve within society, where great liberty abounds; artists are allowed more leeway than people in the 'real' world. But they have to pay a price for this: The world only tolerates their freedom because it is not necessary to attach practical consequences to artistic ideas. Artists primarily have the power to display new, stimulating, attractive images—but the actual achievement of change appears to be a bridge too far. However, artists do not readily accept this situation.
More power is principally concerned with the dilemma of present-day artists who wish to play a greater role in the modern world. How can you ensure that society notices your ideas? How can you, as an artist, make your work so forceful, so tempting, that the world cannot ignore it? Almost every artist in the More power exhibition, whether it be Steve McQueen, Ai Weiwei, Constant, Anselm Kiefer or Yael Bartana, is seeking a new attitude to the world, and sometimes even a new role for art in society. But they always do that, first and foremost, on the basis of their greatest strength: making artworks that you cannot disregard. Although they may doubt the necessity of power, they still believe in the power of art.
Image above: Yael Bartana, "Wenn Ihr wollt, ist es kein Traum," 2012. White neon. Installation view, Secession, Vienna, 2012. Photo: Oliver Ottenschläger. Courtesy Annet Gelink Gallery, Amsterdam & Sommer Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv and the artist.
For More Information