Terms

Commited art

The term “committed art” presupposes artworks that are decidedly socially charged, which is often expressed in more radical forms of immediate political action (political declarations, manifestos). The term refers to J. P. Sartre’s definition of “committed literature”: “Literature reveals to its readers their own situation, so they could assume responsibility for it.”

When using the term “committed art”, we must be aware that artistic creativity (like philosophy) derives also from a critical practice, which exposes and explores the negative aspects of a social milieu or social reality, reveals the covert mechanisms of a system’s operation or indicates possible alternative models. In this context, artistic practices intervene directly into a social context and often presume interaction with the public. Committed practices are situated within the framework of modernist and contemporary art, which is constantly interrogating its own foundations, its mission, and which reflects the broader political reality of the artist’s position within it.

  • Daniel Buren

    Gaps in Architecture / Vrzeli v arhitekturi, 1975

    Installation in public space

    © Koroška galerija likovnih umetnosti, photo Tomo Jeseničnik

  • Pino Poggi

    Coca Cola Soldier / Coca cola soldat, 1968

    Coca Cola cask, soldier figurine

    h: 42 cm

    © Koroška galerija likovnih umetnosti

     

  • Krsto Hegedušić

    Children of Cell No. 8/II / Otroci celice št. 8/II, 1966

    oil, collage, tempera, canvas

    119 x 205 cm

    © Koroška galerija likovnih umetnosti, photo Tomo Jeseničnik

  • Julian Pacheco

    For Resistance III. / Per la resistenza III., 1974

    screen printing, paper

    48 x 66 cm

    © Koroška galerija likovnih umetnosti

  • Toon Wegner

    Bosnian Women on the Train / Bosanske žene na vlaku , 1955

    woodcut

    48.7 x 53 cm

    donated by Dutch artists to the citizens of the Slovenj Gradec municipality on the occasion of the exhibition PEACE 75 – 30 UN SLOVENJ GRADEC (MIR 75 – 30 OZN SLOVENJ GRADEC)

    © Koroška galerija likovnih umetnosti

“Discovering Art” is an educational portal where you can discover interesting facts about art and museums of art.

The online portal Discovering Art is the collaborative effort of four institutions:

Museum of Contemporary Art Zagreb, Fundació Antoni Tàpies from Barcelona, Museum of Contemporary Art Vojvodina and Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Koroška from Slovenj Gradec.

The portal is part of the European project Performing the Museum.

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