Social Documents: The Ethics of Encounter
curated by kirsten Lloyd
The Atlas Group (Lebanon/USA), François Bucher (Columbia/Germany), Renzo Martens (Belgium), Dani Marti (Scotland), Frederick Wiseman (U.S.A.) and Artur Żmijewski (Poland)
When artists site their practice within the fabric of social relations, documentary modes often play a central role in mediating events and experiences. Though the resulting material often bears a close resemblance to ethnographic mapping, investigative journalism or even community work, in contrast to the strict ethical codes to which these disciplines adhere many of today’s artists operate in somewhat murkier waters. Working outside – or even deliberately corrupting – accepted conventions and frameworks, the artists participating in this two-part exhibition find alternative means to engage with social realities in situations of war, sex and political urgency.