Exploration of the Intersection between Artistic Expression and Political Influence in Open Spaces
In the heart of MIT's Media Lab, a symposium titled "Public Space? Lost and Found" took centre stage, paying tribute to Antoni Muntadas, a distinguished professor in the Art, Culture and Technology (ACT) program. The event, organised by the Mediated Matter Group, aimed to delve into the question: What role might artists and architects play in social change movements like Occupy Wall Street and Tahrir Square demonstrations.
Muntadas, who joined MIT in 1977 as a research fellow at the Center for Advanced Visual Studies (CAVS) and has been an ACT professor since 1990, discussed his multi-decade art and activist practice at the symposium. His work, which has served as a model for an engaged practice where art and politics are intimately entwined, was celebrated as an art of pedagogy, inspiring his students to critically engage with the world.
The symposium discussions were built on the shared understanding that art is a common territory among professionals from different disciplines. Gediminas Urbonas, an associate professor and the Mitsui Career Development Chair for MIT's Art, Culture and Technology (ACT) program, praised the symposium for gathering various professionals in conversation.
Interventions displayed and discussed at the symposium spanned the globe, including Tokyo, rural Alabama, and the borderlands between San Diego and Tijuana. One notable contribution was Matthew Mazzotta SM '09's creation of an open-air theater out of salvaged materials from an abandoned house. Another intriguing exhibit was artist Jennifer Allora SM '03's placement of immense pieces of chalk in city plazas around the world, inviting citizens to scribble ephemeral messages on the urban canvas.
The exhibition accompanying the symposium, titled "Public Space? Lost and Found," is installed in the lobby of the MIT Media Lab. It features large free-standing photographs with plywood supports, serving as viewing stations for documentation of public art works created by Muntadas' students since 2001.
According to Urbonas, the interdisciplinary discussions catalyzed by the symposium will be continued through an upcoming publication. This publication aims to "identify and frame the tools, tactics, and consequences of actively reclaiming public space," involving contributors from art, architecture, and urban studies. The upcoming publication will serve as a valuable resource, shaping the discourse around public art and public space.
The "Public Space? Lost and Found" exhibit will be on display in the lobby of the Media Lab from April 18 to Oct. 30, 2014, offering a unique opportunity for the MIT community and visitors to engage with the thought-provoking work showcased at the symposium. The symposium, exhibition, and upcoming publication collectively underscore the importance of art and architecture in fostering social change and reimagining public space in the face of increasing militarization, corporatization, and ecological destruction.
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