Art In Times Of Gray Democracy

Does art have the potential to stimulate and sustain political participation?

On behalf of the Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst, Joanna Warsza invited artists Alexandra Pirici, Pablo Helguera, and Ulf Aminde to Leipzig to try out three projects in public and semi-public spaces: Pirici staged a choreographic intervention at the Monument to the Battle of the Nations; Helguera an improvised speaking choir; and Aminde the dress rehearsal for an art strike. All the works were shown as part of the Performative Democracy series, whose title is taken from the book of the same name by Polish sociologist Elżbieta Matynia. It describes people as politically active creatures whose collective significance is derived from their actions. Produced in magazine format.

Edited by Franciska Zólyom and Joanna Warsza. With contributions by Ulf Aminde, Pablo Helguera, Alexandra Pirici

Designed by Leila Tabassomi, Stefan Walter

Published by Spector Books, 2014

In German and English

Softcover, 76 pages, stapled, 2-color printing (blue and orange) with illustrations throughout, 7 × 10.25 inches

ISBN 978-3-944669-78