The Arts of Dissent : Art and Democracy vol. 2

DatesJun 14 (Fri), 2024 - Jun 16 (Sun), 2024

Dates:

Jun 14 (Fri) - Jun 16 (Sun), 2024

Closed:

Open throughout the session period

Hours:

10:00 - 17:00 (Entry by 16:30)

Place:

Chinretsukan Gallery 1F, 2F (The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts)

Admission:

free

Organized by Yoshitaka Mori Lab & Tomoko Shimizu Lab, Graduate School of Global Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts

Concept

In May of 2022, when the spread of COVID was finally coming to an end, The Arts of Dissent: Art and Democracy was held at the Chinretsukan Gallery of the Ueno Campus, Tokyo University of the Arts, as a response to the sudden changes that had occurred in global politics. One symbolic event was the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February of that year, but this was preceded by the global spread of nationalism, ethnocentrism, racism and xenophobia. Amongst the rise of authoritarian states, political repression through violence, persecution of ethnic minorities, and the spread of fundamentalism, the exhibit tried to consider how art can become part of the discussion.

In particular, Israel's attacks on Palestine, triggered by Hamas' attacks on Israel last year, have since intensified, with many Palestinian civilians being killed. The polarization that has since occured makes it appear as if there is no longer a consensus that could be reached. Art is no exception: the debate over "anti-Semitism" that took place at Documenta 15 in 2021, has yet to be concluded. Nationalism and xenophobia are spreading, while the violent suppression of democracy by authoritarian states continues to intensify. In response, the art world also appears to have become dysfunctional with regard to politics.

What can art do in such times? The Arts of Dissent: Art and Democracy vol. 2 aims to create a temporary space to discuss the relationship between politics, especially democracy, and art. Taking into account the recent discussions on art and democracy both within and beyond Japan, we welcome exhibitions, performances, discussions, and workshops to consider what could be done in this critical situation.

Artists / Projects:

Watermelon Alliance, dj sniff, Sacco Fujishima, DUB Sasurai Shimai, Punk! The Revolution of Everyday Life, Leonidas Martin, Larissa Wang, DANNY JIN, Docu Athan, Piotr Bujak, Inès Jasmine Mesbahi, Visit Palestine Project, Kazura Sunamori, Rio Watanabe, Sapphire Slows, 0:brei, Palestine Our Warm Home, Tears for Palestine, Zac Mehdid, Hideki Takahashi, Toru Kubota, Konosuke Kawakami, Alberto Carrasco Lara, Kenichiro Egami, Koharu Kashiwagi, Taeko Tomiyama, Nadya Tolokonnikova (Pussy Riot), Perera Shu, Atsuko Sugimoto, Ghada Hadil Ben Fredj, Elizabeth Jesse, Ima Hikmatul Hasnah

Inquiry:

NTT Hello Dial: 050-5541-8600

EXHIBITIONS/EVENTS