Introduction to Contemporary Art: Art & Politics

Introduction to Contemporary Art: Art & Politics Starts Wed 11 May 18:30 – 20:30 6 weeks

This beginners’ level course examines the relationship between contemporary visual art and politics. A key question throughout the course is how does contemporary visual art respond to international socio-political frameworks and debates? The course looks at both artists that directly address politics in their work and the circulation of contemporary visual art inside and outside of the established art world. Led by Dr Joseph McGonagle, Lecturer in Cultural Studies in the French-speaking World at The University of Manchester and Sarah Perks, Programme & Engagement Director at Cornerhouse.

Beginners' level – no prior knowledge required.

Tutors: Dr Joseph McGonagle is Lecturer in Cultural Studies in the French- speaking World at The University of Manchester and co-curator of the exhibition New Cartographies at Cornerhouse, which forms part of a larger three-year AHRC-funded project that analyses how relations between France and its former colony Algeria have been represented since the outbreak of the Algerian War in 1954. Sarah Perks is Programme & Engagement Director at Cornerhouse and has produced a wide range of projects, exhibitions and film seasons including Contemporary Art Iraq, Marxism Today, Procession by Jeremy Deller and Visible Secrets: Hong Kong’s Women Filmmakers.

Week 1 Introduction The Dr Joseph Wed 11 May Annexe McGonagle, 18:30 – 20:30 An overview of the definitions related to this course Sarah Perks including political art, globalisation and post- colonialism. Discussion of our approach to the subject and introduction of key artists.

Week 2 International socio-political concerns #1 The Sarah Perks Wed 18 May Annexe 18:30 – 20:30 The focus now extends to the Middle East and Asia to look at specific case studies of countries and artists, which will draw on Cornerhouse’s recent work with Iraqi artists and a forthcoming exhibition of Pakistani artist Rashid Rana.

Week 3 International socio-political concerns #2 The Dr Joseph Wed 25 May Annexe McGonagle 18:30 – 20:30 This week is focused on Algeria and its neighbouring countries. Using the New Cartographies exhibition as a starting point this session will then look at the effect of the current political situation in the area on contemporary art.

Week 4 The legacy of relational aesthetics The Sarah Perks Wed 1 June Annexe 18:30 – 20:30 An increasing number of artists describe their practice as socially engaged or politically motivated. This week looks at key figures associated with ‘relational aesthetics’ and their relationship with the art industry and audiences.

Week 5 Debate/ The curating of politics The Wed 8 June Annexe 18:30 – 20:30 This roundtable discussion investigates the contemporary curating of political art, its critical interpretations, and the politics of curating international art itself. Guests include Dr Lara Pucci (University of Nottingham), Dr Amanda Crawley Jackson (University of Sheffield), writer and curator Omar Kholeif and artist Heath Bunting.

Week 6 Biennials and conclusions The Dr Joseph Wed 16 June Annexe McGonagle 18:30 – 20:30 This final week considers the prominence of and Sarah international art biennales and their role in art and Perks politics, followed by general conclusions to the issues raised by the course.

Films of Interest

Outside the Law (CTBA) (Hors la loi) From Fri 6 May Dir Rachid Bouchareb/ FR DZ BE IT TN 2010 / 138 mins Jammel Debbouze, Roschdy Zem, Sami Bouajila Rachid Bouchareb (Indigènes) returns with a stunning, dramatic portrayal of the Algerian struggle for independence seen through the eyes of three brothers. After losing their family home in Algeria, the brothers follow different paths in France: one joins the French army to fight in Indochina, the second becomes a leader in the Algerian independence movement and the third joins the Parisian criminal underworld in the clubs of Pigalle. The men’s paths come together once more in Paris as they are drawn to violent crime and radical politics. Introduced screening/ The screening on 8 May will be introduced by Joe McGonagle, Lecturer in Cultural Studies in the French-speaking World at The University of Manchester.

Contemporary Arab and Maghrebi Cinema: New Directions and Aesthetics May-June This selection of films explores filmic representations of some of the many transformations that have taken place in the Arab and Maghrebi world over recent decades. The films address issues of great concern to the peoples of the Maghreb and Middle East, such as the making and remaking of individual and national identities; migration and exile; the Arab/ Israeli conflict; and the position of the contemporary Arab city in a global context. This season is programmed to accompany our current exhibition New Cartographies.

Associated Events

Talk/Curators' Tour: New Cartographies Thu 19 May 18:00 FREE, meet in gallery foyer Join curators Dr Joseph McGonagle and Dr Edward Welch as they delve into the central themes of New Cartographies through an informal tour of the exhibition. This tour will be BSL interpreted.