Events at PCUEvents at PCU
Art + activism = artivism
Tamara will explain the complex relationship established between art and freedom in contemporary societies, in the context of art’s aspiration towards absolute, and freedom’s impossibility to be absolute. The starting point is the factual observation that society tends to consider artistic creation as a special form of human activity and that artistic freedom should have special treatment and be protected and/or tolerated. However, when tested through the filter of law, art no longer enjoys such privilege and individual countries either encourage or restrict artistic freedom.
Tamara Moyzes is a Slovak artist, curator, and documentary filmmaker living and working in Prague. She uses art as a tool to activate society and to oppose neoconservative tendencies, criticizing the culture of political representation. She uses new media, most often video art and performance to express topics such as xenophobia, racism, nationalism, queer and minority issues, and the conflict in the Middle East. Moyzes advocates feminism. She founded the art group “Romane Kale Panthera / Roma Black Panthers”, which organize events on the border of political art and activism.
Moyzes founded the “Artivist Lab” gallery as part of her Ph.D. studies in the Academy of Fine Arts Prague. The central idea of the gallery is to connect interdisciplinary people who respond to social and political topics. Literally, it is a laboratory where scholars, journalists, artists, and activists gather together for exhibitions.