Post-Propaganda
JONAS STAAL POST-PROPAGANDA THE NETHErlands FOUndatION for VISUal Arts, DESIgn and ARCHITECTURE FOREWord I. INSTITUTIonal CrITIQUE II. CRITICS III. Art InstITUTION IV. PolITICS V. Propaganda VI. Post-Propaganda VII. PrograMME ACKnoWLEdgEMEnts ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION FOREWord writer’s path. In the linguistic universe of Jonas Staal, the concepts of autonomy, necessity, freedom, claiming While artists continue to appeal for their freedom and producing, politics and art are inextricably linked, and autonomy, the imperativeness of what they do perhaps to the point of No way out – as Bret Easton Ellis is becoming increasingly clear. Artists must depict wrote just as unrelentingly. the zeitgeist, become engaged, descend from their ivory towers, go international, nurture a social Lex ter Braak conscience, make comprehensible work, engage Director of Fonds BKVB in debate, be conscious of their actions – at least according to everyone with an opinion about art (critics, politicians, curators, policy makers, clients). The turbulent times of art manifestos in which the artist, flaming and blaming, determined the desired direction of art himself, are long gone. He leaves the arguments to critics, observers, policy makers and curators. The place and interpretation of art, of his own art, in public opinion eludes him. Considering this, the Fonds BKVB (The Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture) is delighted to have visual artist Jonas Staal contribute to the Fonds BKVB series of essays and examine the position of artist, observer, policy maker and politician. His passionate and critical analysis refuses to deploy Baron von Münchhausen’s obvious disappearing act. He does not escape from his own world by pulling himself out by his hair, but instead considers himself a part of the world he is assessing.
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