"what happens when it's not you - the artist - who is other, but the institution itself that is othered?"
The radical othering of already marginalised individuals (from normative assumptions around identity) often leads to feelings of hostility, unease and perpetual gaslighting, be that internally or externally. The lens of identity, indeed intersectional identities, seems inextricably linked to how we interpret the artwork of individuals who fall outside of this normative remit.
A woman who wears a hijab must then use her artwork to explore her Muslim identity, or her experiences of having faced racism or Islamophobia? A trans artist must use their art to speak directly to their (historic or ongoing) trauma, struggle and transphobic experiences? Who says the content of our artwork must speak directly to our trauma and lived experiences, relating to identity/identities?
This voyeuristic approach centres the needs and expectations of the (normative) viewer; whether this realm of normativity applies exclusively to a cis-het-white-male-view or otherwise is up for debate, but this normative perspective is oft accepted as the broad audience artists are expected to address and speak to.
The othering of such artists' identities is extremely common, whether made explicit through abuse, violence or harassment, or via more insidious and covert means, through poorly veiled micro-aggressions, often at an institutional level. And what's more, to expect the recipient of such vile behaviours to speak directly to this in their work undermines their credibility as a reputable artist with their own agency, interests and musings.
So, what happens when it's not me - the artist - who is other, but the institution itself that is othered? What of this role reversal? Is your status, credibility and legitimacy thrown into question? How do you feel when this arresting gaze is inverted? I do not intend to instigate or further perpetuate any internal political problems you may have. I do not intend to guilt you, to embarrass you with a harsh spotlight on your white/male/heteronormative privilege. I simply ask the question; what if the institution were othered? What then?
The radical othering of already marginalised individuals (from normative assumptions around identity) often leads to feelings of hostility, unease and perpetual gaslighting, be that internally or externally. The lens of identity, indeed intersectional identities, seems inextricably linked to how we interpret the artwork of individuals who fall outside of this normative remit.
A woman who wears a hijab must then use her artwork to explore her Muslim identity, or her experiences of having faced racism or Islamophobia? A trans artist must use their art to speak directly to their (historic or ongoing) trauma, struggle and transphobic experiences? Who says the content of our artwork must speak directly to our trauma and lived experiences, relating to identity/identities?
This voyeuristic approach centres the needs and expectations of the (normative) viewer; whether this realm of normativity applies exclusively to a cis-het-white-male-view or otherwise is up for debate, but this normative perspective is oft accepted as the broad audience artists are expected to address and speak to.
The othering of such artists' identities is extremely common, whether made explicit through abuse, violence or harassment, or via more insidious and covert means, through poorly veiled micro-aggressions, often at an institutional level. And what's more, to expect the recipient of such vile behaviours to speak directly to this in their work undermines their credibility as a reputable artist with their own agency, interests and musings.
So, what happens when it's not me - the artist - who is other, but the institution itself that is othered? What of this role reversal? Is your status, credibility and legitimacy thrown into question? How do you feel when this arresting gaze is inverted? I do not intend to instigate or further perpetuate any internal political problems you may have. I do not intend to guilt you, to embarrass you with a harsh spotlight on your white/male/heteronormative privilege. I simply ask the question; what if the institution were othered? What then?
explore the microsite with graphic identity by openpractice