How does activist art obtain political impact when playing by the rules of the media? What are the medial means by which art activism becomes an agent for political change? Which communicative strategies may be applied to strengthen the force of a political message?

The First Supper Symposium is delighted to invite you to the second part of its symposium series on art activism, investigating the relationship between contemporary art practices and politics. In this edition, Eirik Myrhaug, Center for Political Beauty, The Yes Men, Ekaterina Sharova, Deep Dish TV, Shannon Jackson, Media Impact Moscow, and moderator Trine Krigsvoll Haagensen will engage and activate the audience in unfolding the means by which art activism may become an agent for change in a world of political and economic crisis.

Video from Prologue 2 is here.

We will explore the following questions:

How are political messages communicated within a space devoted to presenting art? What is the difference between presenting art with a political perspective in an art space, versus presenting it in a public space? When political art is presented in an exhibition space, is it transformed into a commodity, is it commercialized and thus rendered passive? What happens to the political message when it encounters the playing rules of the art market?

Video from the symposium here.