The round table
This artistic constellation brought together an artist with a politician, an ambassador, a director of a contemporary art museum, a virologist and an activist. The moderator asked the panelists to consider what role, if any, do art and artists play in their respectful settings? Could they imagine an artist doing his work? What if, like a scientist, artists could be considered experts? What if they should have a more direct role in politics? Viewed in the context of the AAA (era of accelerated abstraction), the work considers how the identities defining both physical and social landscapes have become increasingly blurred and include those of art and 'artist.
The performance
Artist Christian Botale performed '4 Years' which took place in a large inflatable paddling pool around which the panelists were seated. Dressed in a black suit and tie, he playfully moved around with a water gun and children's water toys throughout the duration. The performance, which referenced the artist's Congolese identity and childhood, ran simultaneously with the discussion.
© Heloïse Maillet
The sculpture
A cube-shaped block of polystyrene placed on a typical white base was sculpted as the discussion progressed. Each time a participant said the word “art” or “artist,” it initiated a sculptural gesture to be performed on the block. In the end, all sides of the cube were sculpted to form an organic cellular structure. At the end of the discussion, the artist proceeded to melt the entire block and use its residue to fill the holes that had been made in the base.
The podcast
Hear Ben Jack Nash introduce the project and talk about some of the themes it covers.