ART AND CIVIL SOCIETY: FROM PROTEST TO COOPERATION

Katarzyna Niziołek

doi:10.3846/limes.2010.15

Abstract

In the article, adopting the democratic transformation perspective, the author focuses on art as a specific area of civil society. With an eye on Poland, various forms of artistic activism are analyzed and compared, from artistic vanguard and protest art of the communist period, to the practices of cultural democracy and social art of the present day. In particular, the concept of social art is explained and exemplified with three model projects, each set in a different context ‐ of an open public space, local community and minority group, and each representing a different set of social functions. Menas ir pilietinė visuomenė: nuo protesto iki bendradarbiavimo Santrauka Straipsnyje, laikydamasi demokratinės transformacijos perspektyvos, autorė susitelkia į meną kaip specifinę pilietinės visuomenės sritį. Analizuojamos ir lyginamos įvairios meninio aktyvumo formos, pasitaikančios Lenkijoje – nuo komunistinio laikotarpio meninio avangardo ir protestinio meno iki šių dienų kultūrinės demokratijos bei socialinio meno praktikos. Daug dėmesio skiriama socialinio meno sampratai, kuri čia aiškinama pateikiant trijų modelių pavyzdžius ir kiekvieną iš jų tiriant skirtinguose kontekstuose – atviroje viešojoje erdvėje, vietinėje bendruomenėje ir mažumos grupėje. Visi šie kontekstai straipsnyje pristatomi kaip skirtingų socialinių funkcijų visumos.

Highlights

Katarzyna NiziołekUniversity of Białystok, Institute of Sociology, Plac Uniwersytecki 1, 15–420 Białystok, Poland
Adopting the democratic transformation perspective, in my paper I focus on art as a specific area of civil society
The three projects described above all reflect a wide range of democratic values, such as: grassroots participation; empowerment of the ordinary, the local, and the minor; public expression of one’s condition, and articulation of one’s needs; reclaiming public spaces for spontaneous social actions and gatherings; bridging differences of cultural and social nature; self-reflection and creativity

Summary

Katarzyna Niziołek

University of Białystok, Institute of Sociology, Plac Uniwersytecki 1, 15–420 Białystok, Poland. In the article, adopting the democratic transformation perspective, the author focuses on art as a specific area of civil society. With an eye on Poland, various forms of artistic activism are analyzed and compared, from artistic vanguard and protest art of the communist period, to the practices of cultural democracy and social art of the present day. The concept of social art is explained and exemplified with three model projects, each set in a different context – of an open public space, local community and minority group, and each representing a different set of social functions. Doi:10.3846/limes.2010.15 “To the time, its art, To the art, its freedom”. From the facade of the Secession Palace, Vienna, Austria

Introduction

Artistic vanguard and protest art under communism

Towards cultural democracy and social art

Bridge over the Ocean

Findings

Conclusions