Beginning of February we said that ACT ART were calling for artists for their next show at Central Station on May 8th. Well we got it wrong and they've changed it. Its still ACT ART 8 – CENSORED, there are still spaces for a few more artists (apply before 24th April) but it's now at The Islington Metal Works on Friday 9th July 2010, 8pm-4am.
They say
CALL FOR ARTISTS: ACT ART 8 – CENSORED Friday 9th July 2010.
100 Artists, 1 Venue, 1 Night, 5 rooms, 10 Live Spaces + Seated Cinema
Is CENSORSHIP really appropriate?
Do individuals have the right to say whatever they wish even if this offends someone else?
Does CENSORSHIP have the effect of making art more appealing, more glamorous, and more exciting?
Is it controlling and arrogant to suggest the public needs protecting?
Have you had your own work CENSORED, or in fact self CENSORED in order to get your work programmed?
Is CENSORSHIP about what’s morally wrong or obscene, or is it subjective?
CENSORSHIP has of course been around forever, in art history sculptures by pre-Raphaelite artists had their genitals covered with fig leaves and loin cloths, and Robert Mapplethorpe’s endlessly censored photographs, which at the time caused some to address the public funding of artworks. Right through to Chris Ofili’s ‘Virgin Mary’ (and his use of elephant dung) which attracted media attention in the UK but caused one New York gallery to have its funding temporarily removed as the Mayor of New York (amongst others) found the work to be offensive. And although the gallery had its funding reinstated by a judge the work caused such an outcry that eventually the painting had to be protected by Plexiglass and armed police. The artist Spencer Tunik has staged mass nudity photography events across the globe, including London, yet just one naked person who participated in Antony Gormley’s, fourth plinth project in Trafalgar Square last year, was asked to put their clothes back on, not because it’s illegal to be naked, but because one individual had complained.
CENSORSHIP in more mainstream culture such as television, film and music includes Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s ‘Relax’ single which was deemed so offensive in its day by a radio 1 DJ that song was banned by BBC. Stanley Kubricks ‘Clockwork Orange’ was withdrawn from distribution in the UK by Warner Bros, under the instruction of Kubrick himself as the film caused such controversy on its release, and there accusations that the film influenced copycat crimes. However after Kubrick died it was revealed that the real reason he withdrew distribution was in fact because he received death threats.
Although CENSORSHIP will most likely exist for a long time yet (if not forever) and the Internet and today’s more liberal television programming has made CENSORSHIP a harder task for the authorities, such as the BBFC whose conduct includes looking at material that contains sexual content, violence, politics, blasphemy or seen to be bad taste.
There will still always be those who protest under the banner of what’s morally wrong or obscene, but at the end of the day CENSORSHIP no matter what kind, and from whatever perspective, is a lack of freedom to be able to develop as individuals and make our own judgement which surely in itself is morally wrong.
Artists are invited to submit proposals for work based on or connected to CENSORSHIP for the 8th ACT ART event, as well as work that’s unrelated.
Visit www.actart.co.uk for more information and to make a proposal.
PROPOSAL DEADLINE SATURDAY 24TH APRIL 2010.
To avoid disappointment we recommend sending your proposal in ASAP as we often select work before the deadline.
Curated and produced by Oliver Frost and Marc Massive and now in its 8th year, ACT ART is an underground event that merges art, fashion, pop and club culture. Programmes experimental, radical, challenging, non-mainstream work that’s sometimes difficult to watch, or be confronted with by emerging and established artists that are willing to take risks. Offering a space where censorship is not an issue for those that have something to say, be it political, confrontational, beautiful, or ugly and aims to bring different people together, brake down social groups and steer away from the cliquey art world, and its politics, making art more accessible and fun whilst still remaining thought provoking.
The Islington Metal Works (formally Electrowerkz) just behind Angel tube station at 7 Torrens Street, London, EC1V 1NQ.
