Talk: "Curatorial activism as a form of resistance and meaningful existence"
by Maria Veits and Anna Bitkina from TOK curators.
In conversation with TOK curators, researcher and writer Marina Israilova connects curatorial practice and collective approaches to political activism. She proposes the use of the term ‘curator-activist’ in relation to TOK’s practice and explains it as follows: «First of all, this is [manifested in TOK’s] responsible approach to the choice of topics: migration, Soviet discourse in the post-Soviet, media control and freedom of speech, identity, nomadism, youth movements, daily life of collectivity, cultural memory and cultural and educational policy of the state. Secondly, it shows up in the attention to working methods. And more importantly, [their curatorial activism is in] their refusal to understand the sphere of cultural production as autonomous and in their focus on social change as a result of process of their work»
Global political and ecological transformations of the recent decades, the takeover by right-wing, patriarchy and digital vitalism led to a point of no return to a free, responsible and democratic society. Growing totalitarianism in Russia has had a significant influence on the art scene in the state and has provoked an immediate response from many artists and cultural workers. In their presentation, female curatorial duo The Creative Association of curators TOK (Anna Bitkina and Maria Veits) will outline aspects of activism in their practice and focus on their projects that respond and resonate with contemporary political processes in Russia and beyond.
Biography:
TOK is a curatorial collective co-founded in 2010 by Anna Bitkina and Maria Veits as a platform for interdisciplinary research-based projects in the field of contemporary art. Throughout their practice TOK curators challenge the borders of the art territory and seek ways of how it can foster social change. Most projects of the collective are multilayered and long-term initiatives aimed at generating new knowledge about the causes and consequences of changing political and social realities and often lie between historical analysis and the political imaginary. TOK’s projects deal with current issues that are widely discussed both in Russia and internationally such as migration, public space and citizens, development of education, deprivation of social resources, forming collective memory, human rights, feminism, the growing role of the media in the global society, changing political climate and many others. Curators of TOK curate exhibitions, organize educational events, international conferences and summer schools, programs that aim at the international exchange between artists, curators, designers and educators from Russia and other countries. TOK has a strong publication component and publishes books, brochures, exhibitions catalogues that are available in print and online.
Global political and ecological transformations of the recent decades, the takeover by right-wing, patriarchy and digital vitalism led to a point of no return to a free, responsible and democratic society. Growing totalitarianism in Russia has had a significant influence on the art scene in the state and has provoked an immediate response from many artists and cultural workers. In their presentation, female curatorial duo The Creative Association of curators TOK (Anna Bitkina and Maria Veits) will outline aspects of activism in their practice and focus on their projects that respond and resonate with contemporary political processes in Russia and beyond.
