2/28 Sheku

  “So, again, what can we do? Instead of being disheartened by the sad reality, it is perhaps more productive to be proactively antithetical: to misbehave, to talk back, while dedicating ourselves to disrupting the hegemonic discourse from within by showing the gaps in representation, 'the blind spots, or the space-off, of its representations'.”

- I understand that this quote may trigger some people, but rules were made to be broken, and the world is moved by those who have the courage to take risks. The risk of losing your sanctity or job is understandable, which is why we can support those who do. For instance, individuals who oppose injustices and challenge the status quo. In reality, you will not be reprimanded for every opinion you hold about someone, so I like that this quote promotes proactive action.

“...On investigating price differentials, and sex–race ratios in galleries, within thematic and national exhibitions, and in the press, the numbers demonstrate that the fight for equality is far from over...”

- It's sad, but this is absolutely true, and more needs to be done to include more women artists in exhibitions. Although, in recent years, there has been a push towards more equitable representation in the art world. 51% of visual artists are women, according to the National Museum of Women in the Arts. However there is much more work to be done when it involves women being the stars of art exhibitions.

“An exhibition that could show the universality of racist power structures, as one focusing on Bell most certainly would, seemed like the perfect follow-up. Besides, Bell's protest work has tremendous cross-cultural relevance.”

-This quote illustrates the influence of Bell's work and its cross-cultural interpretation. I'd say that showcasing Bell's work at an exhibition would be a magnificent way to highlight the universality of such structures.  She is significant because her work affects not just those in her community, but also others.

"...What’s even more disturbing is that these mainstream master narratives of art, in which large constituencies of people are ghettoized and excluded from the big-white-boy narrative, are presented as natural, as common sense, and these discriminatory practices are rarely challenged...

-The idea of normalizing a form of art that has been rooted in history and could have been altered is disturbing and wrong. As children, they are desensitized to stuff like this being normal so that no one can challenge it publicly. The beauty of art cannot be denied, as there is also pain, and the experiences expressed in these artworks deserve acknowledgment; I would argue, even, that it's fate, but I don't believe in destiny.

What is Curatorial Activism?

The act of curatorial activism involves bringing together art from different types of people to gain exposure from the public, in order to normalize it in the art scene. The concept refers to the selection of certain collections to challenge the current state of affairs. Through their social engagement, these pieces challenge the status quo and promote semi-blacklisted artists. There are many ways in which we can improve art and art history. The best way to accomplish this is to make art and art history more accessible. People tend to place historically significant art pieces in a class of the elite. I think that creating free exhibitions, and with better marketing, I believe could improve art and art history by increasing its population exponentially and with that, people who pursue knowledge. I think the future of art will have something to do with virtual reality or just technology in general. I think technology has the power to bring people together, and at its ever-growing rate, it's sure to attract new interests.