Well, picking up on Lauren¡¯s last line, I think one can be both in and out
(isn¡¯t there a song, or several songs, about that?).
Distribution is key here. The modalities that the artist chooses (or has
placed upon them) in engaging the audience evidences the context which they
see their work critiquing. To some extent this is the subject of their work.
I would argue that many new media artists have chosen the way they work
largely because the instrumentality of their practice brings them into
immediate engagement with the means of distribution and thus enables them a
better purchase in both its critique and exploitation. I think Michael
Naimark has referred to this as ¡°first word art¡±.
http://www.naimark.net/writing/firstword.html
This is also congruent with Armin¡¯s earlier stated position, although
possibly articulated by an artist he would be critical of; if I am
appreciating the intent of his earlier post.
The mainstream artworld, its institutions (including the ICA), have little
interest in allowing the artists to take control of contextualising factors
such as the means of distribution, the forums of debate or the most
important thing, the levers of the exchange economy that underpin the entire
commercial artworld. When artists, such as many media artists do, choose to
create or exploit other means of distribution, to share their thoughts and
values through their own communication channels and, most importantly, come
up with alternate models for financing what they do (whether exploiting
existing systems, such as academia, or creating new ones, such as open
source) then the mainstream artworld has been stripped of its primary means
of control. In fact they only have one last instrument left to deal with
this, which is marketting ¡© and the tactic they use in this respect is to
ignore such artists and their practices.
In this Ekow Eshun is doing the commercial artworld¡¯s dirty work for them. I
wonder why?
Regards
Simon
On 20/10/08 16:07, "Lauren A Wright" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> In response to what Bruce said, I have a question for Emma (if you feel put on
> the spot feel free to ignore me!): Do you think that in future the ICA would
> "categorically" refuse to participate in projects like the Rafael
> Lozano-Hemmer project coming up in November? I ask because my suspicion is it
> would not (though in a wierd way I hope I'm wrong): his work is all over
> London at the moment, including the Barbican and Haunch of Venison gallery, in
> addition to the big co-sponsored project of which the ICA is a part. He is
> clearly a "hot" artist at the moment who is receiving lots of institutional
> support despite working very much with media (this is not a judgment about his
> work or these projects, about which I'm yet to form an opinion). I wonder then
> whether we should see this as encourging or the opposite, suggesting that it's
> not the media Eshun is "catagorically" rejecting, but the networks and culture
> that "we" associate with media art to which Shiralee, Simon, and many others
> have pointed so far. So if you are an artist who uses media, but are connected
> to the "art world" networks associated with commercial galleries and the
> mainstream art press, you're in, if you distribute your work and the discourse
> around it in other ways (therefore lending the organisation less "art world"
> kudos), you're out? Best Lauren On Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 3:02 PM, Bruce Wands
> <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > I've been following this discussion with
> keen interest. I agree with > Christiane Paul's opinions, especially her
> response to the comment that new > media art "lacks the depth and culture
> urgency" as deeply disturbing. Not > only that it came from the ICA, an
> institution that had the courage to put > on "Cybernetic Serendipity" in 1968,
> but also in the message it sends to > other art institutions. The pejorative
> manner in which it was delivered > speaks poorly of the ICA and their respect
> for artists. It also weakens > every other new media institution's position in
> the "traditional" art world, > as those less informed will use the ICA quote
> as validation to cut funding, > grants, exhibitions, etc. > > I saw Roger
> Malina's keynote at the opening of EMPAC last weekend. One > point he made was
> about the "new leonardos". Many others have commented that > globalization,
> social networking, technology and its new creative tools have > expanded the
> artist's palette. There is a new generation of artists that has > never known
> a world without computers. The world they live in will most > definitely
> impact their creative expression. After all, isn't contemporary > art a
> creative reflection of current society? I, too, believe that the media > arts
> will eventually merge with contemporary art as this generation of > artists
> matures, and art institutions learn how to deal with it. Now that > the ICA
> has dug in and said that "there will be no more "media arts" at the > ICA, how
> do they intend to handle digital prints (i.e. the "Close to the > Surface:
> Digital Presence" exhibition at the ICA), digital sculpture, and >
> installation art that incorporates some form of technology? These are >
> "traditional" art forms that are being made with "new media" tools. Are >
> these creative works now banned, as well? > > Bruce Wands > > > >> On Oct 20,
> 2008, at 6:45 AM, Emma Quinn wrote: >> >>> Just to clarify the situation, I
> have been told categorically by Ekow >>> that as I am being made redundant
> there will be no more 'media arts' at the >>> ICA. >>> Live arts will be
> covered by the exhibitions dept as part of their >>> programme and the music
> dept. >>> >>> best >>> emma >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From:
> Curating digital art - www.crumbweb.org on behalf of Christiane >>> Paul >>>
> Sent: Sun 10/19/2008 2:06 AM >>> To: [log in to unmask] >>>
> Subject: Re: [NEW-MEDIA-CURATING] Live and Media Arts at the ICA >>> >>> Hi
> everyone, >>> I agree that termination of new media programs at cultural
> institutions >>> per se is nothing new, we have seen it before, for many
> different reasons. >>> >>> I also agree with Simon's comment that the
> following statement by Ekow >>> Eshun wouldn't necessarily need to be read in
> a negative way: >>> >>> "I no longer feel that the artistic rationale for
> devoting considerable >>> institutional?attention to that art form - to the
> extent of maintaining a >>> dedicated department to its pursuance - can be
> strongly made." >>> >>> This ideally would mean that new media arts are
> considered part of >>> contemporary artistic practice and find their place in
> the institution's >>> programming - something we presumably would all support.
> (Of course the >>> reality most of the time is that new media arts drop off
> the map as soon as >>> they lose their dedicated space). >>> >>> What I find
> deeply disturbing is the following comment: >>> >>> "New media based arts
> practice continues to have its place within the >>> arts sector. However it's
> my consideration that, in the main, the art form >>> lacks the depth and
> cultural urgency to justify the ICA's continued and >>> significant investment
> in a Live & Media Arts department." >>> >>> Wow. (Live &) New media arts lack
> 1) depth and 2) cultural urgency. >>> >>> 1) Is it the first art form in the
> history of art that, overall, lacks >>> depth? One could make a very strong
> argument that any art form produces >>> works that lack depth, works that are
> mediocre, works that are good and >>> works that are outstanding. I guess new
> media arts are exceptional after >>> all. >>> >>> 2) New media arts is the
> only art form that uses the technologies, which >>> have profoundly changed
> societies around the planet, as a medium. The >>> information society,
> globalization, connectivity (from the work place to >>> 'social networking' /
> Web 2.0), immaterial labor - the list could be much >>> longer - are
> supported and enabled by these technologies. While not all new >>> media art
> comments on the social / cultural / political condition, it seems >>> to be
> *the* art form with prime potential for cultural urgency. (And I'm not >>>
> saying that any other art form couldn't exhibit the latter). >>> >>> I suspect
> that many people in the traditional art world share Eshun's >>> opinion. To
> the best of my knowledge he is the first who shuts down a >>> program by
> blatantly dismissing the art form. I'm looking forward to seeing >>> his
> version of an "ambitious artistic plan." >>> >>> Christiane >>> >>> >>> >>>
> >>> >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Curating digital art -
> www.crumbweb.org on behalf of marc garrett >>> Sent: Sat 10/18/2008 11:46 AM
> >>> To: [log in to unmask] >>> Subject: Re: Live and Media Arts
> at the ICA >>> >>> Hi Simon & all, >>> >>> I agree with Simon. It does seem
> that the ICA are sending a strong >>> message that they wish to maintain an
> old fashioned, perspective on >>> things by keeping mediums and practices
> apart from each other. Such an >>> approach is a mistake and only serves to
> show the world outside, how out >>> of touch they are with contemporary
> culture as a whole. >>> >>> And yes, it is a great pity, not only for culture
> generally but also for >>> their audience, who are being sold a very limited
> vision of things. >>> >>> It also sends a rather dispiriting message that they
> are no longer an >>> interesting or viable option to show at, or worthwhile
> collaborating >>> with. It also gives the impression that they are all hiding
> behind some >>> kind of castle, trying to hold together some ideal, which does
> not >>> relate to the world outside. It is a shame that they have chosen not
> to >>> expand and take on new forms of creativity in a more positive manner.
> >>> Yet, this is their choice and perhaps it is more about keeping certain >>>
> jobs in the ICA - at the top. And unfortunately, those who are staying >>> in
> these positions at the top, are perhaps less interested in >>> contemporary
> art and its ever expanding, nuances. Not interested in >>> relearning,
> adapting their knowledge about media art and other related >>> practices. >>>
> >>> >>> I think that Emma is probably best out of there. >>> >>> marc >>> >>>>
> >>>> Johnny is right and I take back what I wrote before. Or, rather, I wish
> >>>> to >>>> finesse it. Media arts, in the sense they are understood at the
> ICA (art >>>> that employs media) is, as I stated before, well and truly part
> of the >>>> mainstream of arts practice and therefore not having a specific
> program >>>> to >>>> engage it shouldn©öt be surprising nor necessarily a bad
> thing. However, >>>> creative media practice which facilitates, by its very
> nature, an >>>> expanded >>>> notion of what art can be well, that is what
> Johnny is proposing. It is >>>> something that is a force for change, for
> creating new modalities, new >>>> forms >>>> of engagement, new social
> formations. >>>> >>>> In this respect the ICA©ös decision seems to evidence
> their wish not to >>>> be >>>> involved with any meaningful challenge of the
> status quo. It wishes to >>>> see >>>> art that is ©øart©÷, music that is
> ©ømusic©÷ and cinema that is ©øcinema©÷. >>>> That >>>> is a great pity. >>>> >>>>
> Regards >>>> >>>> Simon >>>> >>>> >>>> On 18/10/08 12:40, "Professor SR
> Golding" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> Dear Emma and List >>>>>
> It is disturbing, but not surprising, to hear of the kind of >>>>>
> short-sightedness and ill-conceived departure of live & media arts >>>>> from
> the ICA, especially under the misleading tag line of those arts >>>>> no
> longer being 'cutting edge'. We find at the Univ of Greenwich in >>>>> London
> that our MA-PHD Media Arts Philosophy and Practice Programme >>>>> has
> increased over the years by 300%, with huge home, EU, and >>>>> international
> interest. We have just established a cross-fertilizing >>>>> Media Arts
> Production BA/BSc with two Schools: The Humanities and >>>>> Social Sciences
> and School of Computing Mathematical Sciences. The >>>>> cutting edge work of
> artists, combined with philosophers, journalists >>>>> and scientists has been
> and continues to be exciting and provocative >>>>> -- and our situation is not
> unique. There are many universities, >>>>> post-academic and creative commons
> environments that are doing >>>>> precisely this kind of combination -- led by
> the live arts and >>>>> encompassed in the broad term of 'media arts', where
> the latter >>>>> ('media arts') points not to a 'sub-set' of technologies, but
> names >>>>> the paradigm shift of our age (eg, after 'liberal arts'), where
> speed, >>>>> energy, space, time embed themselves differently in the visual
> and >>>>> sonic arts, or what has been termed elsewhere as the 'altermodern'.
> >>>>> >>>>> How this substantial and lush environment could have escaped the
> eye >>>>> of the Director at the ICA is not clear from his letter. >>>>> >>>>>
> However, what is much more obvious is that the role of the 'art >>>>>
> institute', and especially the ICA, seems to have lost its shine. >>>>>
> Perhaps art galleries/ contemporary art institutes never did encourage >>>>>
> cutting edge works -- but now, at least in terms of the ICA, it >>>>>
> definitely is not encouraging it. The Gallery/institute appears to >>>>> have
> recoiled back to the safe shores of being a service sector >>>>> environment
> to the usual suspects of capital, industry, and banality. >>>>> Pity, really.
> >>>>> >>>>> Guess we'll just have to go elsewhere -- but then, isn't that the
> >>>>> usual story for >>>>>
> artists-philosophers-scientists-designers-curios-thinkers-doers? >>>>> >>>>>
> Johnny de Philo >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ----- Message from [log in to unmask]
> --------- >>>>> Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:23:43 -0700 >>>>> From: marcialart
> <[log in to unmask]> >>>>> Reply-To: marcialart <[log in to unmask]> >>>>>
> Subject: Re: Live and Media Arts at the ICA >>>>> To:
> [log in to unmask] >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Dear Emma, >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Sorry to hear about this. It's sad for you and the ICA, and >>>>>>>
> astonishingly short-sighted on the part of the director, especially >>>>>>> as
> the ICA was THE germinal institution for new media / computer >>>>>>> based
> art with its pioneering 1968 presentation of Cybernetic >>>>>>> Serendipity
> curated by Jasia Reichardt. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Best regards and good wishes to
> you in the next phase of your >>>>>>> career, and congratulations on your
> accomplishments @ the ICA. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Marcia Tanner >>>>>>> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> On Oct 17, 2008, at 10:11:13 AM, "Emma Quinn" <[log in to unmask]>
> >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> From: "Emma Quinn" <[log in to unmask]> >>>>>>>
> Subject: [NEW-MEDIA-CURATING] Live and Media Arts at the ICA >>>>>>> Date:
> October 17, 2008 10:11:13 AM PDT >>>>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
> >>>>>>> Apologies for the blanket e-mail and any cross postings >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> It is with sadness that I am writing to announce the
> closure of the >>>>>>> ICA's Live and Media Arts Department. I have included a
> statement by >>>>>>> Ekow Eshun, the Artistic Director of the ICA below.
> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I am continuing with the programme here until
> the end of November >>>>>>> 2008 >>>>>>> and will then be looking to develop
> and expand the programme with >>>>>>> other >>>>>>> partners and venues. I
> will of course update you on new developments >>>>>>> as >>>>>>> they occur.
> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Thank you for your support and interest in the
> department's projects >>>>>>> during my time at the helm, and please do make
> the most of the rather >>>>>>> full line-up running over the next couple of
> months. It would be >>>>>>> wonderful if you could continue to show your
> support by attending >>>>>>> what >>>>>>> will be an exciting finale. >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> http://www.ica.org.uk/?lid=12173 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I
> have enjoyed my time at the ICA tremendously and this has been a >>>>>>>
> direct result of working with some fantastic artists and >>>>>>>
> practitioners. >>>>>>> The opportunity and privilege to work on the many
> exciting, >>>>>>> thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable projects over the
> last 3 >>>>>>> years, has provided me with new challenges, joy, energy, pride,
> >>>>>>> insight, >>>>>>> thrills and above all has made me very very happy! I
> am very much >>>>>>> looking forward to continuing with these established
> relationships as >>>>>>> well as generating new ones in the next stage of my
> career. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I will be contacting everyone again
> before I leave with my personal >>>>>>> contact details should you wish to
> stay in touch. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Thank you for your time.
> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Kind regards >>>>>>> >>>>>>> emma >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> --- From Ekow Eshun, Artistic Director of the ICA --- >>>>>>> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Following a review of the ICA's programming activities I have
> taken >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> decision to close the Live & Media Arts department
> from the end of >>>>>>> November 2008. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The ICA has led a
> pioneering role in new media arts practice over the >>>>>>> last decade and
> more. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> We are proud of that legacy. However times change. And I
> no longer >>>>>>> feel >>>>>>> that the artistic rationale for devoting
> considerable institutional >>>>>>> attention to that art form - to the extent
> of maintaining a dedicated >>>>>>> department to its pursuance - can be
> strongly made. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> As an institution dedicated to the contemporary
> moment it is >>>>>>> important >>>>>>> that we continually review the
> timeliness and relevance of our >>>>>>> activities and at times make decisions
> on that basis. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> New media based arts practice continues to have
> its place within the >>>>>>> arts sector. However it's my consideration that,
> in the main, the art >>>>>>> form lacks the depth and cultural urgency to
> justify the ICA's >>>>>>> continued >>>>>>> and significant investment in a
> Live & Media Arts department. >>>>>>> Following >>>>>>> discussion with the
> ICA Council and the Arts Council - and agreement >>>>>>> from both bodies - I
> have decided to close the department. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> It's
> also my view that the sheer breadth of activity that our >>>>>>> artistic
> >>>>>>> programme encompasses means that we are often stretched too thin as
> >>>>>>> an >>>>>>> organisation. Our technical, building and financial
> resources are >>>>>>> under >>>>>>> considerable strain and it is hard for us
> to communicate our aims to >>>>>>> our >>>>>>> audience with directness and
> clarity. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> In closing the Live & Media Arts department, we will
> be able to >>>>>>> invest >>>>>>> greater resources in a more concentrated
> programme of activities, >>>>>>> allowing us to create a more ambitious
> artistic plan for 2009/10. And >>>>>>> in >>>>>>> communication with the
> public, the focus of our activity will be >>>>>>> exclusively on Visual Arts,
> Cinema, Talks and Music. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> In addition, these changes will offer
> the opportunity for the Digital >>>>>>> Studio to be reconstituted as a
> dedicated Education space, offering a >>>>>>> valuable benefit to an important
> and growing section of our audience >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> ---End---
> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Emma Quinn >>>>>>> Director of Live &
> Media Arts >>>>>>> --------------------------------------- >>>>>>> >>>>>>>
> Institute of Contemporary Arts >>>>>>> The Mall, London, SW1Y 5AH >>>>>>>
> --------------------------------------- >>>>>>> t: +44 (0)20 7766 1415 >>>>>>>
> e: [log in to unmask] >>>>>>> w: www.ica.org.uk <http://www.ica.org.uk/> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Dogs Ears >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Online Art >>>>>>> >>>>>>>
> www.ica.org.uk/dogsears >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> ----- End message from [log in to unmask] ----- >>>>>
> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Simon Biggs >>>> Research Professor >>>>
> edinburgh college of art >>>> [log in to unmask] >>>> www.eca.ac.uk >>>>
> www.eca.ac.uk/circle/ >>>> >>>> [log in to unmask] >>>>
> www.littlepig.org.uk >>>> AIM/Skype: simonbiggsuk >>>> >>>> >>>> Edinburgh
> College of Art (eca) is a charity registered in Scotland, >>>> number SC009201
> >>>> >>>> >>>> >> -- Lauren A Wright 83a Kimberley Gardens London N4 1LD +44
> (0)79 8129 2734 [log in to unmask]
Simon Biggs
Research Professor
edinburgh college of art
[log in to unmask]
www.eca.ac.uk
www.eca.ac.uk/circle/
[log in to unmask]
www.littlepig.org.uk
AIM/Skype: simonbiggsuk
Edinburgh College of Art (eca) is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC009201
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