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IN-BETWEEN: DIVERSE ACTIVITIES |
In the current organization of the working world, communication, cooperation, flexibility and mobility
are concepts according to which subjects on the labour market are meant to orient themselves.
Artistic work and life projects associated with it, which were once seen as revolutionary, are now held
up as models welcomed by the neo-liberal economic system. We assume that most artists cannot live
from their art and have to pursue various other activities. These can be directly connected with one
another, be affective in a similar way, or take in completely different fields. At any rate, between these
spheres there is a discrepancy that seems to be caused largely by a strange dichotomy seen in the
work of artists: there is mostly an enormous difference between the personal, ideational and social
value connected with this work, and its directly measurable economic value (sale price). The other
activities, on the other hand, serve to make a living, but are often concealed and seen as merely a
means to an end. Our questions now centre on this discrepancy: How is work valued in which context?
What intersections are there between the various activities? How is the “in-between” defined and what
potentials can be derived from this?
All the members of the Salzburger Kunstverein were invited to take part in the exhibition by handing
in one recent art piece AND at least one or more physical artefacts (tools, products, things) from their
one or more other activities they usually do not consider „art work“. Both fields – art production and
wage labour – are represented in the gallery space with architectural equivalents: the art pieces are
hung classically on the white wall of the white cube, the work-artefacts are positioned at 90 cm working
height, lit by laboratory light. In-between these two fields a structure of labelling relates the information
about both kinds of objects to each other.
Additionally a mapping of the artists´ ateliers and labour places that were given with the art pieces and
the artifacts, shows how it is not unusual in times of flex-work and independent entrepreneurship to
work in several jobs at once. Every single map only portrays one artist, even if the map locates five
to six workplaces.
are concepts according to which subjects on the labour market are meant to orient themselves.
Artistic work and life projects associated with it, which were once seen as revolutionary, are now held
up as models welcomed by the neo-liberal economic system. We assume that most artists cannot live
from their art and have to pursue various other activities. These can be directly connected with one
another, be affective in a similar way, or take in completely different fields. At any rate, between these
spheres there is a discrepancy that seems to be caused largely by a strange dichotomy seen in the
work of artists: there is mostly an enormous difference between the personal, ideational and social
value connected with this work, and its directly measurable economic value (sale price). The other
activities, on the other hand, serve to make a living, but are often concealed and seen as merely a
means to an end. Our questions now centre on this discrepancy: How is work valued in which context?
What intersections are there between the various activities? How is the “in-between” defined and what
potentials can be derived from this?
All the members of the Salzburger Kunstverein were invited to take part in the exhibition by handing
in one recent art piece AND at least one or more physical artefacts (tools, products, things) from their
one or more other activities they usually do not consider „art work“. Both fields – art production and
wage labour – are represented in the gallery space with architectural equivalents: the art pieces are
hung classically on the white wall of the white cube, the work-artefacts are positioned at 90 cm working
height, lit by laboratory light. In-between these two fields a structure of labelling relates the information
about both kinds of objects to each other.
Additionally a mapping of the artists´ ateliers and labour places that were given with the art pieces and
the artifacts, shows how it is not unusual in times of flex-work and independent entrepreneurship to
work in several jobs at once. Every single map only portrays one artist, even if the map locates five
to six workplaces.
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ZWISCHENDURCH. DIVERSE TÄTIGKEITEN |
In der gegenwärtigen postfordistischen Arbeitsorganisation sind Kommunikation, Kooperation, Flexibilität
und Mobilität Begriffe, entlang derer sich Subjekte am Arbeitsmarkt organisieren sollen. Künstlerische
Arbeit und damit verbundene Lebensentwürfe, die früher als revolutionär galten, sind plötzlich vorbildhaft
und dem neoliberalen Wirtschaftssystem willkommen. Wir gehen davon aus, dass die meisten KünstlerInnen
nicht von ihrer künstlerischen Tätigkeit leben können und diversen anderen Tätigkeiten nachgehen müssen.
Diese können unmittelbar miteinander zusammenhängen, ähnlich affektiv sein, oder ganz andere Bereiche
umfassen. Auf jeden Fall gibt es eine Diskrepanz zwischen diesen Sphären, die nicht zuletzt einer seltsamen
Dichotomie in der Arbeit als KünstlerIn geschuldet scheint: so klaffen der persönliche, ideelle und gesell-
schaftliche Wert und der unmittelbar ablesbare ökonomische Wert (Verkaufspreis) meist auseinander.
Hingegen dienen die anderen Tätigkeiten dem Lebensunterhalt, werden aber oft verdeckt und als reines
Mittel zum Zweck angesehen… Unsere Fragen kreisen nun um diese Diskrepanz: wie wird Arbeit in welchem
Zusammenhang bewertet? Welche Überschneidungen gibt es? Wie definiert sich ein „Dazwischen“ und
welche Potentiale lassen sich daraus ableiten?
Ausstellungsdauer: 8. Dezember 2006 – 4. Februar 2007
Pressestimme:
Michael Loebenstein: Schau und Wert, in: malmoe 36
www.salzburger-kulturverein.at
und Mobilität Begriffe, entlang derer sich Subjekte am Arbeitsmarkt organisieren sollen. Künstlerische
Arbeit und damit verbundene Lebensentwürfe, die früher als revolutionär galten, sind plötzlich vorbildhaft
und dem neoliberalen Wirtschaftssystem willkommen. Wir gehen davon aus, dass die meisten KünstlerInnen
nicht von ihrer künstlerischen Tätigkeit leben können und diversen anderen Tätigkeiten nachgehen müssen.
Diese können unmittelbar miteinander zusammenhängen, ähnlich affektiv sein, oder ganz andere Bereiche
umfassen. Auf jeden Fall gibt es eine Diskrepanz zwischen diesen Sphären, die nicht zuletzt einer seltsamen
Dichotomie in der Arbeit als KünstlerIn geschuldet scheint: so klaffen der persönliche, ideelle und gesell-
schaftliche Wert und der unmittelbar ablesbare ökonomische Wert (Verkaufspreis) meist auseinander.
Hingegen dienen die anderen Tätigkeiten dem Lebensunterhalt, werden aber oft verdeckt und als reines
Mittel zum Zweck angesehen… Unsere Fragen kreisen nun um diese Diskrepanz: wie wird Arbeit in welchem
Zusammenhang bewertet? Welche Überschneidungen gibt es? Wie definiert sich ein „Dazwischen“ und
welche Potentiale lassen sich daraus ableiten?
Ausstellungsdauer: 8. Dezember 2006 – 4. Februar 2007
Pressestimme:
Michael Loebenstein: Schau und Wert, in: malmoe 36
www.salzburger-kulturverein.at
content: (c) GABU Heindl Architektur 2008