From Committed Art to Democratic Artivism
Introduction
The Changemakers exhibition explores how art can serve as a vehicle for societal change by juxtaposing the work of several generations of visual artists. It considers European artists from the second half of the 20th century, whose work addressed social and political issues, and contrasts them with contemporary young artists that practise artivism – a hybrid genre that combines the techniques of visual and performative arts with the strategies and objectives of activism[i].
Both generations of artists view their work as bearing political significance, not only from an ideological and poetic perspective, but also from a technical and material one. They conceive their artistic practice as communicating on behalf of the community to which they belong, as well as a critical testimony on current issues of social importance.
Furthermore, as will be seen throughout this catalogue, several of the selected artivists have drawn parallels between the procedures, strategies and collaborative forms of their artistic work and the deliberation, negotiation and decision-making processes typical of a parliamentary democratic system.
The selection of pieces from the European Parliament’s Contemporary Art Collection focuses on artists who have demonstrated a commitment to the social and political realities of their time throughout their careers and artworks, notably Emilio Vedova, A.R. Penck, Georg Baselitz, Felix Droese, Darío Villalba, Jannis Kounellis and Adolf Frohner. Their respective works and careers, including their participation in artistic groups and adherence to manifestos, attest to a certain attitude of rebellion against historical, political and social situations that could limit or threaten freedom of thought and expression.
Some of them showed willingness to address topics, issues and realities that are uncomfortable for the public and political power – a characteristic feature that is evident in the trajectory of artists such as Darío Villalba, Claus Carstensen or Yiannis Psychopedis. Their works consistently reflect the conviction that being a painter or visual artist entails the unavoidable responsibility of changing the viewer’s perspective.
In addition to the aforementioned artists, and in order to establish a link with the present day, the exhibition includes a set of contributions from young artivists. Many of them produced a piece of art or intervention under the ‘Pop the vote! Culture on the ballot’ project launched by Culture Action Europe and co-financed by the European Parliament. The main objective of this initiative was to encourage young citizens to vote in the 2024 European elections, especially in countries such as Belgium where the voting age has been lowered.
The exhibition acknowledges the work of European artists whose careers have been characterised by a commitment to political freedom and freedom of expression – sometimes not without risks to themselves or their professional development. These artists have played a significant role in expanding the technical and thematic limits of the visual arts, daring to challenge conventions and censorship.
The whole selection is organised into four chapters, reflecting the predominant themes addressed in both the collection’s works and the artivism of the young generation.
- 1. Freedom of expression, freedom of gesture and language
- 2. Ethics and political freedom, democracy and voting
- 3. Migration: integration and European identity
- 4. Caring for the most vulnerable
- 5. Additional Resources
[i] Nossel, S., ‘Introduction: On ‘Artivism,’ or Art’s Utility in Activism’, Social Research: An International Quarterly, Vol. 83, No 1, 2016, pp. 103-105. Project MUSE, https://doi.org/10.1353/sor.2016.0023.
Some of the artworks included here may not be displayed, for organizational and technical reasons, in all the spaces where the exhibition will be held: initially, in Brussels and Strasbourg.