Dutch futurologist Li Edelkoort predicts an age of amateurs for the 21st century. This is not only reflected in a general trend towards do-it-yourself, but also in the areas of self-management, knowledge acquisition and, last but not least, in the so-called “user-generated content” of our digital media culture. While critical voices point to the risk of arbitrariness and dilettantism, other voices see the potential of democratic participation in this development. In cultural theory, this development is referred to as the participatory turn.
In the field of art, a shift towards participation and involvement can be seen as early as the 1960s. The exhibition “Kunst der Amateure” is dedicated to these artistic movements. The starting point is the first participatory artworks in the medium of conceptual and video art, in which visitors become part of the artwork through active action. These new artistic approaches, which allow visitors to become an integral part of the artistic work, have a democratic claim in common: art should be pushed off its high pedestal of the elites and be accessible to everyone and “activatable” through their own actions. These participatory, democratic approaches of the 1960s and 1970s lead to the interactive media and computer art of the present day. The exhibition presents artistic approaches from the region in a dialog with international positions. The exhibition also presents the results of a participatory artist residency that will take place in September 2024.
Participatory artist residency as part of the exhibition
In reference and homage to Fridel Dethleffs-Edelmann’s “Wohnauto”, an artist is to travel to the rural region around Biberach during a 10-day residency in a caravan or mobile home that functions as an artist’s studio in order to reach people who do not usually go to museums. The artistic themes are at the artist’s discretion, but the condition is that the interested participants are actively involved in the artistic process and that a participatory work is created in the sense of the democratic potential of art. The collective work then becomes part of the exhibition. The artist will be selected via an open application with concept submission.
Schedule artist residency
Start of the tender: June 11, 2024
End of the tender: July 02, 2024
Nomination of the artist: July 12, 2024
Artist residency in a caravan/mobile home
Mon, 09.09.2024 to Wed, 18.09.2024
Presence of the artist for the installation and opening: from 20.01.2025
Selection criteria:
- Degree in an artistic course of study (applications from students are also welcome)
- One-page concept paper of the planned participatory artistic work with details of the material used
- Driver’s license min. Class B
- German language skills min. Language level B1 (proof not required, will be checked in a selection interview)
Applications can be submitted by email to up to and including July 02, 2024.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Judith Bihr, Tel.: +49(0)7351/51-471;
Fee:
The artist residency is remunerated with a fee of EUR 2,000 (gross). Travel and accommodation costs will be reimbursed. Material costs for the participatory artistic work can be budgeted up to EUR 2,000.
Application deadline: July 02, 2024