Due 1/31
An Introduction to Activist Art
1. “Paula Rego’s ‘Abortion Series’ from 1998 is a fitting example of art that had a direct political impact. When a referendum to legalize abortion in Portugal failed in 1998, the artist created a series of paintings that highlighted the fear, pain, and danger of illegal abortions. Her artworks had a great impact and were partly responsible for changing public opinion in favor of legalized abortions during the second referendum in 2007.”
Abortion has always been debated over the years due to the morality of it. One thing for sure is that if the mother doesn’t want the child but cannot abort before it takes form, they may go to extreme methods to do it themselves. Those methods are dangerous and could either kill them or leave lasting damage to the woman.
2. “Ai Weiwei’s Soleil Levant, 2017, publicly discussed the dangerous journey of refugees trying to reach Europe. The installation consisted of 3500 lifejackets worn by refugees who had to cross the sea. While they prevented many people from drowning, others were provided with fake lifejackets and died on their way to Europe”
Ai Weiwei’s artworks are unique, he uses a large amount of space to create one piece. Some artworks don’t look extravagant while others look complicated; it’s hard to understand the meaning behind the artwork without a description. However, if you look closely at the photo, there are many lifejackets staked in the windows. With context, people would know that some of these lifejackets were fake/
Why artistic Activism?
“As any seasoned activist can tell you, people just don’t decide to change their mind and act accordingly, they are personally moved to do so by emotionally powerful stimuli. We’re moved by affective experiences to do physical actions that result in concrete effects: Affect leads to Effect. We might think of this as Affective Effect, or perhaps, Effective Affect. Or, combined in a new word, Æffect (pronounced Aye-fect).”
Depending on the situation, people can be afraid of taking action unless something they are directly affected. One event can change an entire nation if people are motivated to do it.
Artistic Activism’s ability to escape easy categorization is a benefit in societies where protest is commonplace. Whereas traditional forms of protest, like marches, need to constantly increase in size or scope, or descend into violence, to become noticed (and newsworthy), the creative innovation at the heart of artistic activism provides something uncommon, or out of place, that can attract attention and become memorable.
One form of artistic activism that is out of place would be graffiti. People from the area or driving by can see the mural for as long as they want. For example, I remember reading about how the Syrian civil war started and it mentioned graffiti that insulted the dictator. One artwork can go a long way depending on the situation.
8 Artists Using Their Creativity to Drive Activism
1. “With her needle and thread, she weaves intricate embroideries that defy traditional notions of femininity. It invites viewers to question and reimagine societal expectations. Her bold and vibrant paintings redefine the concept of the nude, presenting the female form as a symbol of strength and liberation.”
Ghada Amer’s artworks contain colorful embroidery, sewing, collage, and ceramics depicting women. I searched up her works and it’s hard to tell if the women are nude, but they are from different parts of the world. Some artworks include messages with the woman while she carved one word with different terms.
2. “Through his kaleidoscopic installations, that tend to use the natural elements such as air and water, he unravels the invisible threads binding humans and nature — reminding us of our profound interconnectedness and calling for urgent action for earth's protection. Each beam of light, droplet of water, or gust of wind he crafts in his captivating physical experiences serves as a catalyst for change, inviting us to embrace our role as stewards of the planet.”
Looking at Olafur Eliasson’s artwork is mesmerizing. I never seen an artist use kaleidoscopic design for their display. I’m not exactly sure how his artwork would reflect the catalyst for change, but I assume you are supposed to question your actions while it changes colors.
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