Edited by Stina Edblom, Edi Muka
Texts by E. Muka, S. Edblom, L. Bang Larsen,
F. Berardi, R. Kjartansson
Design by Leon & Chris
2013, English, softcover
180 pages, 17 x 23 cm
ISBN 9789198087420
The notion and nature of play has puzzled and inspired thinkers over the course of history. Interpreted as excessive, elusive, and unproductive, play and imagination have permeated many cultural spheres over time, and emerge from the 20th century as two critical ingredients of today’s artistic and political discourse. Emphasizing productivity through spontaneity, risk, freedom and pleasure, the act of play and radical imagination have motivated not only significant research and experimentation within the arts, but also social and political change. As artistic practices, curatorial models and institutional frameworks continue to shift, each development makes visible the transformative impact of this critical investigation.
This book reflects the conceptual backbone of the 2013 Göteborg International Biennial for Contemporary Art, Play! Recapturing the Radical Imagination, and illuminates an active discourse.