Art not oil. Art activism by Liberate Tate Cover Image

Sztuka, nie ropa. Artystyczny aktywizm kolektywu Liberate Tate
Art not oil. Art activism by Liberate Tate

Author(s): Katarzyna Maniak
Subject(s): Visual Arts, Human Ecology, Social Informatics, Sociology of Art
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Keywords: Liberate Tate; art activism; art of protest; capitalocene; institutional critique;

Summary/Abstract: In her article the author analyses the activity of Liberate Tate collective, which was founded in 2010 with the aim to end sponsorship of Tate Gallery by BP oil company. This example of alliance between art and activism may be considered in two ways: in the context of the relationship between the institution and the artists who attempt to transform the museums, and also through the art of protest against the oil corporation responsible for environment exploitation. The activity of Liberate Tate is compared with others forms of protest, such as Occupy Wall Street or the fight against Dakota Access Pipeline. The framework of interpretation is indicated by the complex reliance between art, activism and neoliberal capitalism. The ideas of delirium and resistance proposed by Gregory Sholette appear to be particularly useful in explaining the given relations, as well as the notion of practicing deindividualization by activists, who build various alliances and communities of those engaged in creating the envisioned museum.

  • Issue Year: 41/2019
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 358-372
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Polish