MediaImpact book presentation
Discussion: Art and Agency in the Information Age. From Bradley Manning to Pussy Riot.
Participants: Peter Weibel (artist, Chairman of ZKM), Joulia Strauss (artist, activist, Berlin) and Tatiana Volkova (curator, ZHIR Project, Moscow)
Autonomous University, occupied BB7, KW Institute for Contemporary Art
Saturday, June 23rd, 16.00
The coordinated system of contemporary art has shifted, art that is autonomous from institutions funded by corrupt governments or ethically unwell private corporations is growing. It is our great honor to present a publication which gathers and reflects inventive forms of protest crucial for global change. Peter Weibel stated
«The best contemporary art is activism.» and our stance is aligned and in order to advance the workings of activism through and within the culture of art and the broader culture combined.
The publication in book form «Media Impact. International Festival of Activist Art» is what previously was known as a «catalogue» of an «exhibition», which took place complementary to the last year’s Fourth Moscow Biennale of Contemporary art. The exhibition was constituted by informative artefacts and documentations and as space for exchange between different movements, as a form of synchronisation and generation of coordinated actions.
We would like to further develop the shape of next year’s Media Impact festival and discuss the future service of an art institution that would be interested in creating greater distance from privatization and move more towards putting culture into the commons.The presentation and the discussion, taking place in the re-occupied Berlin Biennale 7 that is newly formed as a horizontal structure, will be conducted as an assembly. Interests will be particularly targeted toward a technologically advanced empowerment of political impact.
We are extremely grateful to welcome Peter Weibel not only as a supporter, who made this publication possible, but also as a member of
Vienna actionism which can be seen as an early form of activist art.
Discussing «Art and Agency in the Information Age» we also address tremendous problems that activists face such as WikiLeaks and in this we want to honour Bradley Manning in forcing governments transparent.
This book is being presented on the days of the trial of Pussy Riot and we see our meeting as a continuation of the world wide protest against their detainment.
«In Western Europe people like to read about indignation, even if they don’t have to take risks. In Russia resistance can be dangerous. Therefore the indignation of individuals for social causes like justice, humanity and freedom cannot be pressed and supported enough.» (Peter Weibel)
The presentation is followed by lecture by Tatiana Volkova „The Culture of riot: Experience of Recent Protest Movements in Russia“ in 129 Gallery, Berlin, June 22-nd 19.30, and „Media Impactors“ video show at OKK Raum 29, Berlin, June 23-d 20.00.
