The Politics of Art

15 May – 25 June 2010
Opening 6-8pm 14 May, 2010

Artists: Joel Birnie, Philip Brophy, Alex Martinis Roe, Geoff Newton, Kit Wise, Lou Hubbard
Curator: Jan Duffy

Terms such as 'art-world' and 'art industry' suggest a community dedicated to the production and consumption of art that is separate from yet similar to the ‘real’ world. At the same time there prevails an image of the artist as an individual unbound by the rules of society.

There are benefits to artists in belonging to the art-world such as a greater freedom of expression and a sense of acceptance when exploring ideas that may offend the general populace. There are also disadvantages. Artists are not governed by the normal working conditions of a free market. Even though they are fundamental to the production of art they have little power in controlling its consumption. This project aims to explore the concept of an art-world and its implications.

Indigenous artist Joel Birnie's installation The Burden of Ghosts confronts the 'ritual of continuous acquisition – certificates of ethnicity, permissions, knowledge of history ...' in his quest to 'verify and justify' who he is and what he does.

Kit Wise' video installation Fire (Kuwait, 1992) explores the representation of disaster in contemporary culture.

Alex Martinis Roe investigates strategies of resistance in Anti-Vertical Demonstration Expanded Workshop, live demonstration of an action and video.

Untitled Collages 2005-2010 by Geoff Newton parody the presentation of art openings as social events.

Philip Brophy poses 60 provocative questions in Hey, You (or, So you want to talk Art & Politics.

Lou Hubbard asks "If politics is 'the art of the possible' what might it look like as art?" The four videos that make up her work Force Field focus on goal kicking under duress.

For interviews, images or further information please contact Jan Duffy on 03 9534 00994 or info@lindenarts.org