Relational Aesthetics
Putting an Idea into Play
In the 1990s, French curator Nicolas Bourriaud established Relational Aesthetics. The Tate Gallery defines Bourriaud’s vision:
He saw artists as facilitators rather than makers and regarded art as information exchanged between the artist and the viewers. The artist, in this sense, gives audiences access to power and the means to change the world.
Facilitation—That is, in essence, a goal of descendant art and altars—-every day, and in an annual day of deep contemplative celebration.
In this goal, Day for Descendants is both concept and relational. The concept element offers personal and collective exploration of values both daily and in the annual celebration. The relational can put it out there in undefined and endless ways. Not just by artists. By everybody.
There is some context and some of my goals and interpretations of Day for Descendants. What are yours? Please join us and share. See Ways to Altar 2 on Mulch.
To be sure, the group show is an experiment, not unlike other art shows exploring a theme. This 2023 show will not be the experiment’s end. It is at the experiment's start—with a specific exploration of how a group of local, varied, and talented people view descendant art and altars.
