Artivist
Encyclopedia
Artivist is a portmanteau word combining "art
" and "activist". Frank Berganza states..."When one pushes for change, (socially, politically, or environmentally), by utilizing their creative ability to communicate in ways of their artistic activity, that is known as Artivism". Artivism developed in recent years while the anti-globalization
and antiwar protests emerged and proliferated. In most of the cases artivists attempt to push political agendas by the means of art. Yet this is not political art as it was known before, in the sense of artworks being political. The artivist is often involved in Street Art
, Subvertising
, Spoken Word
, Activism
and Protesting.
In some cases, Paris in 2003 for instance, artivists were arrested for acts of political art that verged on property destruction. A typical short term goal of artivists is to reclaim public space, especially by subvertising or destroying ads in urban areas or city transportation systems. Nevertheless artivists engage in different media like the internet not only for actions which could be described as hacktivism
.
Often the acts of artivists can be refererred to as part of the larger concept of Culture jamming
.
There is a chapter on Artivism in It's Bigger Than Hip Hop by M.K. Asante, Jr.. Asante writes of the artivist:
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
" and "activist". Frank Berganza states..."When one pushes for change, (socially, politically, or environmentally), by utilizing their creative ability to communicate in ways of their artistic activity, that is known as Artivism". Artivism developed in recent years while the anti-globalization
Anti-globalization
Criticism of globalization is skepticism of the claimed benefits of the globalization of capitalism. Many of these views are held by the anti-globalization movement however other groups also are critical of the policies of globalization....
and antiwar protests emerged and proliferated. In most of the cases artivists attempt to push political agendas by the means of art. Yet this is not political art as it was known before, in the sense of artworks being political. The artivist is often involved in Street Art
Street art
Street art is any art developed in public spaces — that is, "in the streets" — though the term usually refers to unsanctioned art, as opposed to government sponsored initiatives...
, Subvertising
Subvertising
Subvertising is a portmanteau of subvert and advertising. It refers to the practice of making spoofs or parodies of corporate and political advertisements. Subvertisements may take the form of a new image or an alteration to an existing image or icon, often in a satirical manner...
, Spoken Word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
, Activism
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
and Protesting.
Hacktivism
Hacktivism is the use of computers and computer networks as a means of protest to promote political ends. The term was first coined in 1994 by a member of the Cult of the Dead Cow hacker collective named Omega...
.
Often the acts of artivists can be refererred to as part of the larger concept of Culture jamming
Culture jamming
Culture jamming, coined in 1984, denotes a tactic used by many anti-consumerist social movements to disrupt or subvert mainstream cultural institutions, including corporate advertising. Guerrilla semiotics and night discourse are sometimes used synonymously with the term culture jamming.Culture...
.
There is a chapter on Artivism in It's Bigger Than Hip Hop by M.K. Asante, Jr.. Asante writes of the artivist:
The artivist (artist +activist) uses her artistic talents to fight and struggle against injustice and oppression—by any medium necessary. The artivist merges commitment to freedom and justice with the pen, the lens, the brush, the voice, the body, and the imagination. The artivist knows that to make an observation is to have an obligation.
Artivists
- AboveAbove (artist)ABOVE has been creating public art since 1995. Above is an international street artist who keeps his identity concealed. Above is known for his multi-layer/full color social and political stencils, spinning wooden "arrow mobile" installations, and large mural "word play" paintings. Above started...
- Ana Kefr
- Anomie BelleAnomie BelleAnomie Belle is an American musician and activist. Originally a classical violinist and songwriter from Portland, Anomie began performing and recording her own music as a child. She has since worked as a musician and producer in Madrid, Glasgow, Amsterdam, New York, Buenos Aires, and London...
- Ashara Ekundayo
- BanksyBanksyBanksy is a pseudonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist, film director, and painter.His satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine irreverent dark humour with graffiti done in a distinctive stencilling technique...
- Bleeps.grBleeps.grBleeps.gr is the pseudonym used by the Greek artist whose initials are BKand his crew. Bleeps.gr performs political Street art, artivism, paintings and installations...
- Frank Berganza
- JoFF RaeJoFF RaeJoFF Rae is the pseudonym of a prolific New Zealand event producer, designer & artist.Renowned for innovative concept design & event management; Creative Director & Technical Director with Urban Arts entity ; produced various projects in New Zealand & Internationally.Present roles in production &...
- John FeknerJohn FeknerJohn Fekner is an innovative artist who created hundreds of environmental and conceptual outdoor works consisting of stenciled words, symbols, dates and icons spray painted in New York, Sweden, Canada, England and Germany in the 70s and 80s...
- JRJR (artist)JR is the name of a photographer and artist whose identity is unconfirmed. He has described himself as a "photograffeur", he flyposts large black-and-white photographic images in public locations in a manner which is similar to the appropriation of the built environment by the graffiti artist...
- Norm MagnussonNorm MagnussonNorm Magnusson is a New York-based artist and political activist.Founder, in 1991, of the art movement funism, he began his career creating allegorical animal paintings with pointed social commentaries...
- phelgo
- Peter Joseph
- Will St LegerWill St Leger-Career:St Leger's stencils are humorous and sometimes surreal fusion of icons, events and images from popular culture. Previously a graphic designer and former Greenpeace activist-Art Intervention:...
Collectives & Organizations
- ARTIVIST : creative by any means necessary!JoFF RaeJoFF Rae is the pseudonym of a prolific New Zealand event producer, designer & artist.Renowned for innovative concept design & event management; Creative Director & Technical Director with Urban Arts entity ; produced various projects in New Zealand & Internationally.Present roles in production &...
- Artivist Film Festival
- Artica Concepts
- CrassCrassCrass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
- Da! collectiveDa! collectiveThe DA! collective was an art collective who squatted a townhouse at in Mayfair, Westminster, Greater London in October 2008. The property, at 18 Upper Grosvenor Street, is a 30-room grade II-listed 1730s mansion worth an estimated £6.25 million pounds owned by the billionaire Duke of Westminster,...
- MYSTYLe artMYSTYLe art"creative group MYSTYLe art" is a group of students and young people, who are creating and supporting cultural activities, projects through media and arts....
See also
- Avant-gardeAvant-gardeAvant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
- EdutainmentEdutainmentEdutainment is a form of entertainment designed to educate as well as to amuse.-Overview:...
- Whirl-MartWhirl-MartWhirl-Mart is a culture jamming ritual aimed at retail superstores and described by participants as "art and action."An event consists of a group of supposed shoppers who congregate at a large superstore and slowly push empty shopping carts silently through store aisles...
- Treasure HillTreasure HillTreasure Hill is a formally illegal settlement in Taipei City, Taiwan. The community was founded by the Chinese Nationalist Party Kuomintang veterans in the end of 1940's and served originally as an anti aircraft position...
- Pan African Arts Society