When looking at the gallery and exhibition space from an outsider or alien point of view, the social relations at play may be considered unique and unusual. Similar behaviours can be further explored in a jury situation, talkabout and art lecture.
The terms, phrases, questions and statements listed below were recorded at such art “events” in and around Switzerland. This list may be used to aid one in performing a convincing art cognoscenti in these artistic discussions.
Note: It is common practice to describe art, speak about how it makes one feel, reference anything it makes you think about and ask a lot of questions.You don’t even have to know anything about it to express a worthy opinion.
Copy and paste it. Make it your own. Read it if you like or write over the existing text.
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and I wonder if................................. it makes me think of............................ what do you mean by............................? what do you mean when..........................? did you intend for.............................? did you intend to..............................? how did you come to this.......................? what is your position..........................? what role do you play..........................? it seems to me that............................. I have a comment................................ I have a question............................... I have an observation........................... please will you say more about.................. please elaborate on............................. I see........................................... I understand ..................................... how do you challenge...........................? how do you avoid...............................? how do you resolve.............................? how do you mediate.............................? how do you provide.............................? I was wondering how you would................... I felt really................................... maybe you have something to say about........... It could be interesting for..................... It could be interesting if...................... perhaps it could be............................. perhaps it could mean........................... it’s just a suggestion.......................... it’s something to think about................... it could be read as............................. there was a sort of............................. I find... very rich.............................. that was very interesting for me................ it’s quite exciting.............................
what I mean by that is.......................... you mentioned................................... I think it’s hugely ambitious................... how do you define...............................? how do you cater for...........................? it worked very well............................. what would be an ideal setting.................? how would you categorise this work.............? what is the ideal..............................? how do you situate your practice in the theoret- ical discourse of..............................? I really appreciate your........................ I think there is space to develop............... I would like to build on what......has to say... I am attracted to these elements................ I don’t think they translate.................... I think it could translate...................... for me.......................................... it needs to be tested........................... it is my opinion................................ it puts the spectator into an interesting posi- tion............................................ I like what you say when........................ in that way..................................... exactly........................................! you mentioned the words......................... I would like to ask if and why.................? how do you interrogate history.................? I find it very important that.................... you touch on.................................... there’s really something there.................. maybe you could say a bit more about............ how do you reflect on...........................? how do you make that separation................? how do you hint at.............................? it brings to mind...............................
i’m also very interested in the fact that....... one quick question/observation.................. this references... for me....................... it’s inherent in the nature of.................. what I like about what you are trying to do is.. ................................................ how do you think your experience and reality wil l..............................................? how can you use this...........................? how do you imagine future works................? ...............time piece....................... ..........monumental sculptures................. .......demystify the art making process......... we didn’t want to be overly political........... it was important to make a literary connection it’s art........................................ we are not trying to hand out pamphlets......... kinetic performance sculptures.................. it’s all about balance.......................... it’s really part of everyday life............... this is supposed to be a pack of flesh........... it symbolizes................................... it’s quite a stunning piece..................... obviously it’s not very literal................. for people who are not versed in contemporary ar t............................................... the cow knocked it down......................... ...new models of artists........................ ...after life of public art..................... a convincing work............................... to talk to power you have to adopt power structu res............................................. ......................entertainment arterial.... this is an example of theatrical architec- ture............................................ ...............and this is relevant architecture
a way to read the landscape..................... ....................a discrete action........... a work exists in time........................... ..........manicured sculpture park.............. I am interested in professional artists......... I do not believe that everyone can be an artist. it takes a lot of work and training to be an artist.......................................... how do you maintain the spaces/places contempo- raneity........................................? a long time question of sculptures is........... it might be aggressive in....................... what kind of position do you want to have......? part of our DNA as..... artists is abstractness. it’s kind of strange but i’m happy to put it the re............................................. are these images romantic? And float?............ please note the antique emptiness of image...... could we re-engage the image in action.......... .......and that is one of the challenges........ a structure that has an incredible personality.. a charged space................................. it’s very interesting from a production point of view............................................ try to nurture younger artists.................. dialogue of different cultures.................. negotiating identity............................ .............colonial and post colonial trans- formation of identity........................... pakistani perspective........................... ..............sophisticated narratives.......... ...beautiful application in the urban space..... anthropocene is trending........................ homo sapiens as the most influential force chang- ing the environment............................. ........................decrease of biodiversity
......western society........................... .............relationship to the environment.... ...no equilibrium in nature..................... no clear links between nature and culture....... new motifs into the Valais...................... the message is clear with the line across the bo dy.............................................. the landscape does not exist until represented by an artist.................................... contrast between contemporary and old art....... we should open up more.......................... the storm is starting........................... this boat is not going anywhere................. this is the room for important artists.......... it’s like a community enhancing the american sty le............................................. this contrast between old and new............... these people- they really exist................. the difference between bodies, beast and plan ts.............................................. she was always looking for balance.............. a closed world- a domestic world................ of course the people from the Valais- they want to see this..................................... we speak about authenticity and primitivism..... it’s primitive in it’s style.................... a beautiful watercolour......................... to show the inferiority of black people......... slave from Congo................................ so in a way they cut this building with a....... .....organic abstraction and now we have geomet- rical abstraction............................... this is interesting because it does something... ........very strong pieces together............. it’s almost a frightening structure............. ...........is the signs of a historical painting7
the human body is everywhere.................... ...the body in three different forms............ the more primitive result of body and landscape being cow dung.................................. this is a reflection on the burning in Mongolia.. it makes sense to put it by the fireplace........ do you know why we put this here...............? what do you think this painting represents.....? you might know that..... artist................? of course it makes a reference to objectivity... shows how art makes the landscape............... creates some kind of a poetic................... ......................and I say I- as the viewer it’s very free.................................. I think you are very free....................... I kind of sense it like this.................... it creates it’s own logic....................... it falls flat after a little bit................. ..............or this is what I feel maybe...... it’s about squares and things................... so the bird shat on it.......................... ...locate works on peripheries of structures.... all the workers were laughing................... I thought maybe through repetition it would chan ge............................................. ...........changing perception of things........ logic of a stone hanging above a lamp........... closeness produces something different.......... they were very happy to do it................... it was an opportunity for them.................. following the sea gull around the art fair...... suggest a way of experiencing the place......... i’m getting all messed up....................... re-animate space................................ re-activate and invert reality.................. how do we transmit experience..................?
it’s not like we are against galleries.......... these kind of works............................. i’m keen on vagueness........................... an extension to that is......................... blackness and music is very related............. ..........very surrealist and strange........... nobody had seen anything like this.............. it was quite provocative........................ the focus i’m going to talk about is............ ...in contemporary art particularly............. strategies at play.............................. ah! but there must be something................. convergence between............................. ...the main contentious point................... we can’t really understand art without.......... ........constructs ideas about.................. that figure is not the artist.................... .....a force for a progressive view of art...... the question of artistic autonomy............... but what is really going on....................? what risk is involved..........................? just quickly to recap........................... I want to differentiate that.................... we’ve moved from... to.......................... so then can we add say.........................? but really what we see.......................... actually I would like to disagree............... endurance became a dirty world.................. ...dealt with the demeaning domestic activity... .....of women................................... with the realities of the everyday.............. low art and art of the insane................... ........neutrally interrelated events........... ............of the contemporary................. hence these immersive environments.............. an exhibition for mice..........................
a museum within a museum........................ a spiritual figure or a guru..................... he almost looks like............................ see the installation as a workshop.............. ongoing performative curatorial role............ ...threatening the autonomy of the artist....... validation of particular art practices.......... the economics of being an artist................ I want to add a small footnote to this salable works of art.................................... this very vivid sound display................... you can access online........................... a very interesting book related to.............. start producing good stuff...................... I see different things going on................. i’m suspicious of............................... this genre of artistic production............... it suggests..................................... it reminds me of................................ spectating or something from a distance......... open that out................................... open that door.................................. let’s keep it open.............................. I think......................................... that is very important.......................... very relevant... artist......................... ...a very important project..................... ...a symbol of his work......................... very silent poetic work......................... making this parallel............................ this is a well known artist..................... .....a relevant artist.......................... .... to whatever................................ ethnic groups that disappeared.................. it’s quite related to........................... this violent moment.............................
this is the people using the.................... to intervene in art through life................ gesture linked to milk.......................... I enjoy this very much.......................... ................this question of economics...... this is a work I don’t like very much........... a gay perspective............................... it was weird because it was a dance between men. be aware of political agenda.................... relevant for society............................ who decides this...............................? please can you reframe the terms of the argu- ment...........................................? reformulate the question please................. political frame................................. parallel position............................... the fascist does not believe in a conversation.. .......inviting the fascist..................... political dialogue.............................. disengage from a dialogue....................... it is an argument............................... we are getting into very complicated issues..... it’s not granted................................ liberal state of mind........................... don’t act artistic.............................. ...in this context.............................. ...artwork in relation to society............... a network of things............................. a good example of............................... a nice position................................. liberty of the artist........................... freedom........................................! we don’t know................................... I heard a lot about this........................ so impressive................................... .............not meant to be public.............
whistle blowing kind of things.................. the text seems alien............................ they don’t even know what they mean............. be aware........................................ global significance.............................. a system that incorporates its own critique..... a helpless situation............................ nobody knows what a participative project is.... ....integrated the participative dimension...... divisions of cultural labour.................... there are no black people in Chile.............. I don’t have a problem with the art world....... it renews itself and justifies itself............ origin of the project........................... source of the project........................... it’s a good question............................ I don’t know.................................... looking at trash................................ political economy of trash...................... shoestring approach............................. precise elements................................ it makes complete sense for me.................. it is very clear................................ ..relate to other things in a metaphorical way.. meaningful in this way.......................... use can transform............................... ......the speed of a gesture.................... aesthetic language.............................. I was looking for something..................... try to make links............................... understand my historical period................. to give time and space.......................... zone of contact................................. irony plays on itself........................... mostly women.................................... the schizophrenia of our time...................
there’s an old relationship with Switzerland and Russia.......................................... open a kind of mental space..................... something totally political..................... hillary is not a feminist model................. I have no solution.............................. art can make really fun stuff................... understand the present.......................... ....now we are in the future...................... how can this survive in time as a contemporary work...........................................? art and shit.................................... freud and shit.................................. there is a lot of mystery....................... we don’t understand............................. when you reach the surface...................... it’s not only about going down, its’s also about going up........................................ the core thing is............................... ...how to avoid stereotypes..................... ....contract with the reader.................... this is ... production.......................... a testimony means to be......................... .....creating memory............................ how you place it................................ ...how you call it.............................. it can’t be fiction.............................. the question of legitimacy...................... it comes from this scepticism................... ....... not instrumental........................ of course facts are very important.............. there is already fabrication.................... it comes from this.............................. ........goes a certain way...................... play the victim................................. ...... are the heroes...........................
fiction to tell the untold stories............... ......problematics of the present and past...... project into the future......................... things i’m very sceptical about................. maybe the position of the writer................ .........towards the notion of justice.......... .... is better than nothing..................... the situation is very provocative............... is it you or are you taking on a role..........? could you theorize on what you are doing.......? ...position within the frame of victims......... the format is................................... the media would................................. the legitimacy of the media..................... ....corresponds with availability............... enhancing....................................... what was omitted................................ ...operating within the fictional................ the victims are................................. let’s go to the questions then.................. .................................a bit anarchist the person who encountered the events........... my personal experiences......................... with regards to the status quo.................. ...speaks to the form........................... .......intercontextuality of the text........... it comes from this subjectivity................. idea of transit................................. idea of escaping the environment................ demystify poverty............................... not in the normal sense......................... protesting for.................................. it’s almost like................................ ...decommissioning traditional forms of knowl- edge............................................ a means to displace.............................
quotes that really speak to me.................. social aid and things like this................. it won’t be sufficient........................... I know where i’m going.......................... ............criticise the format................ of course there is something missing............ ............................in Serbia........... this is the process............................. either it’s very real or........................ it’s an open question........................... starting to see................................. the principle of reality........................ ... a common thing that we use.................. some are a little bit fake...................... different time frames........................... the research question........................... interesting to have two perspectives............ feed a new reflection............................ ............................ a key to understand the organisational principle.................... it was a radical choice......................... I see that...................................... I see something and............................. i’m seeing already.............................. can you please say something about.............. I think in a way................................ .... on a place I don’t know.................... ................allows me distance.............. who are you addressing.........................? It’s somewhat banal............................. not so well expressed........................... ......................not trusting them......... you being in a position of transition........... interesting as a position....................... I wished also................................... ............................very levelled.......
.........give yourself more freedom............. protocols of encounters......................... in a sense I like............................... so ok........................................... it’s a little critique.......................... I don’t know how to say......................... being a citizen................................. but also about democracy........................ the relationship between Switzerland and Ser- bia............................................. in fact it is................................... it’s a question................................. I had this feeling.............................. I have the feeling that......................... it’s a comment from me.......................... for instance.................................... I think......................................... there is some sort of intensity................. I didn’t feel legitimate........................ .........a country that is not mine............. .................on the one hand a privilege.... ...reflects my process........................... ....................go to something more general try to condense................................. the situation of how it is today................ more information................................ everything is coming up......................... .......................we can really start to... ...........really enjoyed....................... ..........................really engaged........ a tension that can be interesting............... to be free...................................... ...........build your legitimacy................ difference in intensity......................... ..........make tragic events so monstrous....... tragedy of crime or violence....................