Abstract
Homo Ludens Ludens ; http://www.laboralcentrodearte.org/en/410-homo-ludens-ludens In his 1938 study Homo Ludens , the Dutch historian and cultural theorist Johan Huizinga set out to ascertain how far culture bears the character of play, insisting on the primacy of play and its essential relationship to freedom.1 As digital games spread far beyond their conceptual and commercial milieus of origination, they bring alternative modes of relation and representation to art and politics. Reflecting on such a re-ludification of culture, the curators of Homo Ludens Ludens , an international exhibition and conference, assess the role of games and play in contemporary artistic practices. Following the exhibitions Gameworld (2007) and Playware (2008), Homo Ludens Ludens (2008) concludes the Gaming Trilogy, a series of exhibitions dedicated to digital games at the LABoral Centro de Arte y Creacioon Industrial in Gijoon, Spain. On its bilingual (Spanish/English) website, LABoral encourages the exploration of the theme beyond the boundaries of exhibition spaces, documenting the concepts, designs, and curators' statements. It describes and links to most of the works of all three exhibitions and offers a free bilingual 600-page catalog that covers the complete series as well as the contributions to the Homo Ludens Ludens International Symposium. The project is conceptually framed in relation to a disruptive logic of digital play (situated in the art-historical context of avant-garde and experimental aesthetics) on the one hand and a creative industries framework on the other. The LABoral Art and Industrial Creation Centre positions itself explicitly in the context of the so-called creative industries, a controversial policy and research framework that has been embraced by politicians across the political spectrum in the hope that the cultural and creative sectors will generate much-needed economic growth. Designed in 2007 on the grounds of an older vocational training center in Asturia (once the hub of the Spanish steel industry) as …
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
