27 Apr 2017
Loughborough festival explores relationship between art, politics, and the pamphlet
A two-day festival in Loughborough will look at the role of the pamphlet as both an art form and an influential means of political communication.
From 26 – 27 May, ‘For & Against: Art, Politics and the Pamphlet’ features performances, presentations, an art exhibition and the creation of a series of new pamphlets.
The public symposium at Fearon Hall, Loughborough on Friday 26 May will see presentations and ‘rants' from a wide variety of artists, academics and pamphlet makers.
A keynote speech by prominent social media figure and political video blogger Mark McGowan (known online as Artist Taxi Driver) examines what it means to be a ‘political pamphleteer’ in the age of social media.
On Saturday 27 May, the event takes over Loughborough’s Queen’s Park, museum and library with hands-on workshops, performances, processions, exhibitions and music for all to get involved with.
Highlights across the two-day programme include:
• The launch of ‘For & Against! The Art of the Pamphlet’, an exhibition of political pamphlets
• ‘Off Message’ - a creative workshop with Turner Prize-nominated artist Ciara Phillips where participants can print wearable slogans
• A one-to-one performance with artist Ruth Beale that takes place during a reduced-price haircut
• Open ‘market stalls’ where the public can participate in a day of pamphlet-making with artists
• A new performance piece by Rory Pilgrim working with Reba Maybury, writer and founder of the radical interdependent publishing house Wet Satin Press
• Sound work created by Patrick Goddard for the Queen’s Park bandstand
Throughout the 20th century, artists have worked and acted provocatively using text, images, and performance, publishing writings and producing pamphlets and manifestos. The last decade has seen art’s increased engagement with political and social issues, and a preoccupation with revolutionary movements and global politics.
The event responds to research into this field by the Radical Aesthetics-Radical Art (RaRa) project which was initiated in 2009 at Loughborough University under the auspices of the Politicized Practice Research Group by Dr Jane Tormey and Dr Gillian Whiteley.
‘For & Against: Art, Politics and the Pamphlet’ is part of Radar, Loughborough University’s contemporary arts programme that engages with academic research.
For further information, please visit the Radar website.