Why Are We 'Artists'? 100 World Art Manifestos

by Jessica Lack

'Art is not a luxury. Art is a basic social need to which everyone has a right'.This extraordinary collection of 100 artists' manifestos from across the globe over the last 100 years brings together political activists, anti-colonialists, surrealists, socialists, nihilists and a host of other voices. From the Négritude movement in Europe, Africa and Martinique to Japan's Bikyoto, from Iraqi modernism to Australian cyberfeminism, they are by turns personal, political, utopian, angry, sublime and revolutionary. Some have not been published in English before; some were written in climates of censorship and brutality; some contain visions of a future still on the horizon. What unites them is the belief that art can change the world.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Essays, Philosophy

540 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Jessica Lack is a writer with a focus on modern and contemporary art. She began her career as an editor at tate: the art magazine before becoming an arts correspondent for The Guardian. For several years she wrote regularly about art for i-D Magazine. She contributes catalogue essays, has scripted short films and appeared in documentaries for Channel 4, The BBC and Sky Arts.

She is a Trustee of Wysing Arts Centre and Grizedale Arts.

Reviews

[stary grzybiarz · Rating 4 out of 5]

kurwa wreszcie koniec

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic spread of manifestos and interesting questioning of what art means for different groups in society. It reasons art is a neccesity from all corners of the globe.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

great compendium, and offers an interesting look at a truly global history of art.

[Iulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, wide array of voices discussing art, artists and their role in society. Amazing to see how these manifestos 'talked' to each other, how each viewed and approached complex questions such as Old vs. New, Local vs. Global, Western Imperialism vs. Marxism & Communism, White/Black Feminism, Revolutionary Art, Anti-Art etc.. I loved the diverse perspectives and insights, lots to think about and come back to.

Some of my personal favourites:

1. George Henein: "Manifesto (1945)"

2. Maya Deren: "A Statement of Principles (1961)" - a welcome anti-political stance on art

3. Alberto Greco: "Manifesto Vivo-Dito (1963) - 'I don't know if I said this before, but we must go out into the street and not see it as a means of transport, as though everything were a commercial object, or a streetcar that takes us from one place to another.'

4. Agnes Denes: "A Manifesto (1969)" - 'seeing reality and still being able to dream'

5. Mike Brown: "I don't know what to think about anything (It don't matter, nohow) (1972)"

6. Sulaiman Esa & Redza Piyadasa: "Towards a Mystical Reality (1974)"

7. Rasheed Araeen: "Preliminary Notes for a BLACK MANIFESTO (1975-6)"

8. Tania Bruguera: "Manifesto on Artists' Rights (2012)"

[Daniel Clemence · Rating 3 out of 5]

An eclectic mix of essays on art, specifically from a political perspective. The majority of the essays represent anti-colonial ideology and broadly represent a Leftist outlook. I imagine that many people would see this book as "woke" and I wouldn't necessarily say they are wrong.

The essays vary widely from amazing works of thought and theory to the absurd and wordsalad. My favourite essays include "Towards a New Vision" (1969) which is an optimistic essay written in the early days of Baathist Iraq; Tucuman Arde Manifesto (1968) which is an essay on Argentine socialism; Metaphysical Synthetism Manifesto Programme of the St Petersburg Group (1974) which is about Christian Orthodox art from Russia; A Declaration by the CADA (1982).

I think what is interesting is how there are essays that critique Western civilization and the USSR. There is however a lack of right-wing essays. Overall, an interesting compendium of essays.

[Sophia Iguana]

"Art is less important than a conversation about it."