Only Collectives Left Alive
With Dmitry Vilensky of Chto Delat
It is no exaggeration to say that in recent years the world has entered a situation of profound uncertainty, when factors of climate catastrophe, new wars, the sharp impoverishment of people, mass migration, the extinction of more and more animal species, the unprecedented acceleration of virtual communication, the impoverishment of cultural language have become a constant background for the production of culture and art.
All of these situations largely determine the mass psychological crisis faced by a growing number of people who feel increasingly alienated from a world that is sinking into a state of permanent emergency that destroys any possibility of orientation, based on past experience.
Where once the ability to make art collectively belonged more to the realm of radical experimentation, it is now becoming a basic necessity for survival in an increasingly hostile world.
In this course you will learn how to navigate in a rapidly changing and threatening world, learn about different models and ways of working collectively, do hands-on exercises - to devise a research art project about an issue that concerns you, and create a protocol for involving others in its realization.
You will also become acquainted with the most important key texts that address collective work methods and techniques, many historical examples of art groups, and a number of theories related to the notion of the state of emergency.
Office Hours: Thursdays 11am -12pm
April 11th - May 23rd
Tuesdays
11 am -1:30pm EST
20
Students
$1,250
USD
Dmitry Vilensky (born 1964 in Leningrad) artist and educator. He works mostly in collective practices and focus on developing an architecture constructions, educational seminars and learning plays, graphic works, and films. Не is the founding member of Chto Delat (What is to be done?), a platform initiated in 2003 by a collective of artists, critics, philosophers, and writers with the goal of merging political theory, art, and activism. Vilensky is also an editor of the Chto Delat newspaper and main facilitator of a School of Engaged Art in Petersburg.
He is also authors of numerous contribution to art press and participant of symposiums and conferences and guest teacher at many international art academies.
He has participated with Chto Delat in many shows – see profile at https://artfacts.net/artist/chto-delat/71233 including 29 biennials and major Museum solo shows:
Recent exhibitions include: When the roots start to move and get lost”, State of Concept, Athens (2020); ‘Times, Lines, 1989s’, Khoj International Artists’ Association, New Delhi (2020); The Missing Planet. Visions and re-visions of ‘Soviet Times, Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci in Prato, Italy, 2019; MUAC (The Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo), Mexico (solo show 2017); KOW BERLIN (solo show in 2017 and 2015), San Paulo Biennale (2014), Art, Really Useful Knowledge Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid (2014), Art Turning Left: How Values Changed Making 1789–2013 – Tate Liverpool, Liverpool (2013); FORMER WEST: Documents, Constellations, Prospects, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin (2013); 10th Gwangju Biennale, Gwangju (2012); Chto Delat in Baden-Baden, Staatliche Kuntsthalle, Baden-Baden, 2011; Chto Delat Perestroika: Twenty Years After: 2011–1991, Kölnischer Kunstverein, Cologne, 2011; Ostalgia, New Museum, New York, 2011; Study, Study and Act Again, Moderna Galerija, Ljubljana, 2011; and The Urgent Need to Struggle, Institute of Contemporary Art, London, 2010.
The works are part of the collections: The Museum of Modern Art , New York; Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven; Museum Reina Sophia, Madrid; Le Centre Pompidou, Paris; MUDAM, Luxemburg; Tretyakov Art Gallery, Moscow; MUAC (The Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo) Mexico City; KIASMA, Museum for Contemporary Art, Helsinki; Kadist Art Foundation, San Francisco; Museum of Conteporary Art, Belgrade; CAAC, Sevilia and many others
The Excluded /2014/
The Excluded. In a Moment of Danger / full sound track of the film-performance
Installation view of the reading room “Study, Study and Act again” at The exhibition “Really Useful Knowledge” | Reina Sophia Museum, Madrid | October 2014
new version with shelves sculptures (realized by Alena Petite) and Educational Flags (realized by Nikolay Oleynikov)
Installation view of the reading room “Study, Study and Act again” at The exhibition “Really Useful Knowledge” | Reina Sophia Museum, Madrid | October 2014
new version with shelves sculptures (realized by Alena Petite) and Educational Flags (realized by Nikolay Oleynikov)
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