Maurizio CattelanAmerica, 2016.
Photo: Jacopo Zotti, courtesy of Maurizio Cattelan's Archive

Democratic Art

92 – Democracy Feature Open access Banksy Maurizio Cattelan Rirkrit Tiravanija The Illuminator

The current crisis of democracy has called into question the value and viability of democratic forms of governance. The so-called Great Recession demonstrated the absurd futility of attempting to reconcile democratic values with the imperatives of global finance and neoliberal capitalism. More recently, the revival of political authoritarianism, fascist ideology, and identitarian populism has indicated a precipitous decline in political support for democracy. As a result, there has been renewed interest in politicizing art.

Although the communist alternative might appeal to some, many artists, curators, and critics have rallied to the defence of democracy, either by seeking its redemption or by pressing for its ineffective liberal variant to give way to a form of direct democracy. Almost without exception, these efforts are laudable and indispensable. However, it is worth considering how cultural and intellectual production made in the name of democracy can sometimes embody values opposed to those that it is intended to promote.

Facebook Tweet LinkedIn Email

This content is available with a Digital or Premium subscription only. Subscribe to read the full text and access all our Features, Off-Features, Portfolios, and Columns!

Subscribe (starting at $20)

Already have a Digital or Premium subscription?

Don’t want to subscribe? Additional content is available with an Esse account. It’s free and no purchase will ever be required. Create an account or log in:

My Account