Projects 2002

Wild in the Streets Workshop

The moderators of Wild in the Streets firmly believe that it is possible to create political platforms and new political formations within the cultural field. Art matters and should matter as more than a site for self-expression or analysis, and/or the affirmation of the status quo. To further art's potential, thinking and analysis are required, alongside a consideration of what the terms politics and culture currently signify.

The Wild in the Streets workshop aimed to establish a discussion on the development of models for the interaction between art practice, identity politics and activism. The workshop was ultimately engaged in an effort to move away from the art context, applying representational strategies used by art and visual culture, yet retaining an activist objective. The conversation moved towards different public arenas of representation and contestation such as the media, the political sphere and the everyday, consequently, from the art world towards the field of political activism and interaction.

In order to compare and challenge, the workshop consisted of a combination of presentations, lectures and round-table discussions involving a number of artists, activists and theorist from different cities. Wild in the Streets was moderated by Jochen Becker, Berlin; Katya Sander & Simon Sheikh, Copenhagen; and Valerie Tevere, New York.

In addition to the organizers' presentations, four guest speakers were invited, who - from different perspectives and locations - presented their work to the group. The guest speakers were Manuela Bojadzijev (Kanak Attak, Frankfurt), Anders Eiebakke (UKS, Oslo), Emily Jacir (New York/Ramallah) and Tad (Applied Autonomy, New York).