WORKBOOK

On questioning art’s role in activism…

Should all art involve activism or is making art already an act of activism in itself? If art and activism are separable, are artworks that don’t involve activism not as important, are they lesser than those that do? Thinking about the term ‘useful art’ (coined by Tania Bruguera), where art has a real effect in society, what are ‘useless art’ and do they really have no use at all? Who gets to decide the criteria of what is useful and what is not?

This workbook came about as I contemplated art’s role in activism and ended up with numerous questions about art, mostly concerning its purpose, role and value in society. My mind also gravitated towards thinking about what conditions enable an individual to make art and under what circumstances can an individual afford not to express something? As activism implies challenging and changing power relations, it is important to think about our individual positions in society, our privileges, our relationships with worthiness, our value systems, society’s structure and what those in power value and support. From here, we form a web of different connections and positions, which perhaps could illuminate steps towards possible actions, but where does art come in and does it need to?

I believe art creates a space to test things out which could then help us live life. Art also enables us to encounter, confront and process challenging and uncomfortable things. I’ve read in an online article once that said “art doesn’t change the world, but it is how we use it to help us change”, perhaps art is more of an activation than activism.

Some answers cannot be given to us straight away, as Rilke suggested to live the questions and gradually we will live into the answers. I therefore decided to transform some of my questions around art and its role in activism into a series of absurd exercises for myself and those interested to act out. They are ridiculous enough to have a bit of fun and play a little, but at the same time create a space to experiment and contemplate from a more playful and sometimes nonverbal perspective and perhaps will enable new ideas or further questions to emerge.

                                                                                       Bettina Fung | 馮允珊

                                                                                                                   September 2020