Natasa Ilic
In the context of contemporary art, what is your vision of a yet unknown art?
In the context of contemporary art, what is your vision of a yet unknown art?
When it comes to visions of the future, I get quite confused by certain contradictions I generally live with, but here I don't know how to disregard them. There is a future I desire and there is a future which I fear, and they are both equally based on my limited knowledge of the present. The burden of countless permutations and contingencies - past and present - blinds my imagination, makes me feel uncomfortable. Contempt for persistent praise of visionary capacities of artists and art does not totally negate a desire for it. Being devoid of any vision, my every effort to imagine art yet unknown is prevented by my reluctance to imagine the future as a puzzle of present facts. It is as if the very act would immediately deprives it of the quality of unimaginability which makes it exciting as if I would somehow jinx an art yet unknown by imagining it. The fact also has to do with Fredric Jameson's statement that it is easier to imagine the "end of the world" than a far more modest change in modes of production. Since art participates in present modes of production, whether it likes it or not, it would be fun to envision an art that no longer operates within the art system as we know it, but an art born, raised, nurtured and propagated within other systems (as we know them). Perhaps: an art that completely shifts into science and medicine where soon it gets so worked out that "art testing" becomes part of the obligatory routine, and doctors simply prescribe an involvement in exhibitions and projects. Of course, there would be experts on art to the purpose of children's upbringing, different experts on the art of relating to other people, wholeheartedly debating art that to the best creates, tests and initiates new and healthier forms of human relationships on different levels at work, at home, and in society in general. Sometimes they would, indeed, think about a model of relating to other people making, say, a ride in a public transport a more fulfilling experience. I wouldn't mind that also the art of conversing with people at the lowest level of the service sector, the art of politeness, the more frivolous art of good manners and, sure, the deeply moving art of gestures and eye contact, definitely the art of transportating people, as well as the art of organized, urban walking (which for a period might even push away dancing), the art of sleeping, of leisure, of work ... . There would also be something called "fine art", and doctors would occasionally prescribe it and that would be called "interdisciplinary research". I also like the way the question "In the context of contemporary art, what is your vision of a yet unknown art?" frustrates me. Natasa Ilic Zagreb |
