AICA 48th International Congress Symposium

Matthew Bown: The Secret of the Ideological Age

The theme for the symposium was developed from an article by Matthew Bown ‘Traces of the Holy’ (Times Literary Supplement, 10 April 2015) which argued for the idea of the contemporary artwork as crypto relic. The extreme veneration of art in a hyper inflated market is the focus of the symposium which asks: what are the ethical tensions for the contemporary artist and critic when art becomes a global currency at a time of extreme inequality and instability?

The symposium will take place the following day at the Royal College of Art in partnership with the RCA project, Culture+Conflict. Confirmed speakers include Professor Julian Stallabrass (The Courtauld), Dr Anthony Downey (Art and Politics Now, 2015), Nicholas Bourriaud (The Radicant 2009), (René Gimpel, (Gimpel Fils, London, galerie gimpel & müller, Paris), JJ Charlesworth (Art Review), Ben Lewis (The Great Contemporary Art Bubble, award winning documentary, 2009) and Anna Somers Cocks (The Art Newspaper) will chair one session. The event addresses a timely and critical issue and will benefit academic peers and a wider public.

REGISTRATION from 18.00
This event will be followed by a reception in the Foyer.

Registration for RCA Symposium Tuesday 27 October email: jill@visualartstudytours.com

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