Way Beyond Art

Abstract

AbstractOn the private and independent art scene, the male and female artist and curator addressing socio-political issues are recurring presences, explained by the art historian Beti Zerovc through the spreading of curating accompanied by a politicized discourse on how art and its institutions can contribute to building a better, more democratic, more egalitarian and freer world1. In this article, I will focus on male and female artists who address sensitive issues in society either to make them visible or to offer possible alternatives, using performance as a means of artistic expression due to its immaterial character and specific immediacy it implies.I propose a brief account of the history of performance in the field of visual arts, to review the role given to art in a close relationship with society, in a transversal and close relationship with the viewer, in a relationship with artistic institutions which is often critical. Finally, I will present a series of artistic projects carried out in the past ten years in Romania, to explore the dynamics of art - society - artist - spectator - institution and to identify the sensitive issues involved and the forms, values, lifestyles that art performance projects that I propose.