Past Exhibition

Social Strategies: Redefining Social Realism
August 21 – October 10, 2004

 

SOCIAL STRATEGIES introduces tendencies in contemporary art that redefine social realism by reconsidering the art of propaganda as a force in forming social consciousness; simulating and/or documenting prevailing social or political conditions; or projecting new social or spiritual orders.

The late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have given way to a strikingly different kind of Social Realism. The 60s, 70s, and 80s gave rise to a powerful quest of emerging generations to find a new and, indeed, ideal order for our world. Embracing environmental/socio-political as well as transcendental issues, they challenge the contrary view that presses for progress at any cost.
Accordingly, this exhibition identifies, examines, and compares this renewed social praxis from three distinct viewpoints: RECONSIDERING PROPAGANDA, SOCIAL SIMULATIONS, and FROM THE ABSTRACT-TRANSCENDENTAL TO THE UTOPIAN.

Artists: Tracy Emin, Rainer Ganahl, Gilbert & George, Jenny Holzer, Ken Lum, Neo Rauch, Thomas Ruff, Paul Pfeiffer, Mary Kelly, Kim Sooja, Beat Streuli, Richard Billingham, Nan Goldin, Sam Taylor Wood, Jeremy Blake, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Wolfgang Laib, Julie Mehretu, Glexis Novoa, Sue Williams, Edgar Arceneaux, Barbara Kruger, Jack Pierson, Paul Shambroom

Curated by Klaus Ottman and Pamela Auchincloss. Toured under the auspices of Pamela Auchincloss/Arts Management.