Artivists: a day in Peckham
8th May 2004

The event

As part of the series of events marking the launch of University of the Arts London - the new name for the London Institute - Artivists will offer a varied artist-led event focusing on presentations, projections, performances and audience participation. It is an event designed to provide a platform for discussion and an opportunity for artists, students and public to meet.

Underlying the day’s programme is the engagement with the term 'Artivist': a combination of art and activism. The day will be divided into three sections each offering a different approach: historical, discursive or reflective, visual, performative and celebratory. The intention is not to define what 'Artivist' might or could mean but to offer an opportunity for artists to respond via presentations or their actual practice to the idea of art as: cultural agitation, community involved, politically motivated, and so forth.

The event will take place at Peckham Library as part of a day of events under the general theme 'Artivists' and will be followed by a series of performances, and interventions within the environs of Peckham Square. The programme continues into the night with a party music and projections at Area 10, a local artist-run space.

Part 1: Presentations at Peckham Library. 1.30-4.30pm

Artivists: present and past practices Peckham Library 8 May 1.30-4.30pm

Following the broadly announced demise in the credibility of utopian thought, how could one describe the current wave of artistic practices that are engaged with life beyond the art gallery? Could it be that with the blurring of ideological polarities, such practices require a far greater independence of thought on the part of the artist? Does the contemporary art idiom enable a suitable platform from which to operate? Are artists’ associations and collaborations examples of artivistic practices or mere strategies of visibility?

Is it possible that rather than a current wave, artivism has been present albeit unreported for some time? If so, what have been the critical transformations within socially engaged art since the 1960s? Young(er) artists whose practice could be described as 'artivistic' join artists that have been working since the 1960s in an attempt to answer such questions during an afternoon of presentations, conversations, video screenings, debates and controversy.

Speakers:
Dimitri Launder + Anila Ladwa (Area 10)
Amy Plant
Matthew Cornford + David Cross
Walter Riedweg + Mauricio Dias
Oreet Ashery
David Medalla and another guest artist will respond to presentations.

Free but booking essential: c.wegener@camb.linst.ac.uk
Convened by Claudia Wegener and Michael Asbury

Part 2: Performances at Peckham Square 5.00-8.00pm

Participating artists include:
Paul O'Kane Is God Under The Table? - The First Aestheophenomenoumenolgy conference Tomas Poblete Bread and Wine David Medalla & Adam Nankervis Antonin Artaud and the Dalai Lama Shezad Dawood Silent Protest Anthony Padgett Interreligious Cardboard Structure and Fashion Eduardo Padilha Peteca Tim Flitcroft Pooltable Charlotte Bernstein Passing Through (Little Miss Detox) Lucia Cipriano Afterwards Only Tears Calum F. Kerr The Mobile O.T.H.E.R.S. (Oiling The Hinges Ensuring Regeneration Squadron) Helena Walsh (with Tom Richards and Kevin Bideman) Pass the Parcel Julie Caves Have A Nice Day Rachael House Peckham Pet-Tastic (Reunion) Lee Campbell A Sticky End Camilla Saunders (with Helena Paul and Doug Holt) Walls of Security Deej Role Call Maria Kheirkhah Teror ba Negah Giacomo Picca If We Get In It We Can't Get Out Of It Katherina Radeva Inside and Out Liliana Lopoz One's Place in the World

Free, no booking required.

Part 3: Area 10, behind Peckham Library 8.00pm onwards

Video screenings: coordinated by Andrew Stiff and Christina Sgouromiti
Performances: coordinated by Lina
Music, Food, etc.

Contributors include:
Andrew Stiff and D-Fuse D-Tonate DVD Alma Tischler Wood Last Review (editing: Kathy Kenny) Sarawut Chutiwongpeti Wishes, Lies and Dreams Erica Scourti Trailer Truth Giacomo Picca A 1001 Utilitrees + I Am a Celebrity and I've Blown My Cool Tetine (Bruno Verne and Eliete) Aurora Valérie Vivancos (sound: Rodolphe Alexis, support: Jacques Perche): Private Mix

For booking information please contact:
Area 10: 020 7635 6135
www.area10.info

Travel information:
Tube: Elephant & Castle, Oval, then bus: 12, 36, 171, 436

Artivists is supported by Camberwell College of Arts' University Launch fund and by the research departments at Camberwell and Chelsea College of Art and Design.