The Militant Image
Picturing What Is Already Going On, Or The Poetics of the Militant Image
Curated by Urban Subjects in collaboration with Camera Austria , co-produced by steirischer herbst.
Camera Austria, Graz, Austria
September 30 – November 16, 2014In the political terrain of the present, what makes a militant image? Historically, forceful artistic works have represented the eruption of revolution, the gathering of liberation struggles, the concatenation of social movements as well as heroic or overlooked moments of resistance and refusal—and even acts of courage and love. Today both the mass media and artistic works abound with images of insurrection, of protest, and of the violent enforcement of biopolitics and the revanchism of austerity. Images of plazas, squares, universities, the streets, and mass protests reverberate in galleries and at biennales. Yet, just as acts of militancy and the targets of militancy are transformed in relation to a historical occasion, the representation of militancy is also open to new situations and potentials. A militant image materially and affectively closes a distance between representation and politics and between the image, communities, and actions. But, as an image of militancy is not guaranteed to be a militant image, what representational tactics, modes of circulation, and affective connections give the image its political intensity? Networks and forms of militancy overlap temporally and spatially and include immanent militancy, militant particularisms, militant de-colonizing, and the militancy of sharing. Militant images »live« within these network of relations and circulate through the past into the present and onward to future social actors.

Artists: Raymond Boisjoly (CA), Harun Farocki (DE), Peter Friedl (AT), Sharon Hayes (US), Marine Hugonnier (BE), Alfredo Jaar (US), Emily Jacir (PS), Walid Sadek (LB), Jayce Salloum (CA), Ines Schaber (DE) Paola Yacoub (LB).

Works
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Pre-opening artists’ talks
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Pre-opening artists’ talks, 25.09.2014, 17:00 
With Jayce Salloum (CA), Paola Yacoub (LB), Urban Subjects (AT/CA) 
Photo: Joana Theuer

Opening
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Eröffnung / Opening: The Militant Image, 27. 9. 2014
Camera Austria 2014
Photo: Joana Theuer

Short description
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Urban Subjects is currently working on the exhibition: 
The Militant Image 
Picturing What Is Alreday Going On, Or The Poetics of the Militant Image
in collaboration with Camera Austria , co-produced by steirischer herbst.

Pre-opening artist’s talks: September 25
Opening: September 27
Exhibition: September 30 – November 16 2014
Workshop herbst academy see here

Artists: Harun Farocki (DE), Peter Friedl (A), Sharon Hayes (US), Marinne Hugonnier (BE), Alfredo Jaar (CL), Emily Jacir (PS), Walid Sadek (LB), Jayce Salloum (CA), Ines Schaber (D), Paola Yacoub (LB) and others

Long description
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In the political terrain of the present, what makes a militant image? Historically, forceful artistic works have represented the eruption of revolution, the gathering of liberation struggles, the concatenation of social movements as well as heroic or overlooked moments of resistance and refusal—and even acts of courage and love. Today both the mass media and artistic works abound with images of insurrection, of protest, and of the violent enforcement of biopolitics and the revanchism of austerity. Images of plazas, squares, universities, the streets, and mass protests reverberate in galleries and at biennales. Yet, just as acts of militancy and the targets of militancy are transformed in relation to a historical occasion, the representation of militancy is also open to new situations and potentials. A militant image materially and affectively closes a distance between representation and politics and between the image, communities, and actions. But, as an image of militancy is not guaranteed to be a militant image, what representational tactics, modes of circulation, and affective connections give the image its political intensity? Networks and forms of militancy overlap temporally and spatially and include immanent militancy, militant particularisms, militant de-colonizing, and the militancy of sharing. Militant images »live« within these network of relations and circulate through the past into the present and onward to future social actors.

Materials (Exhibition folder)
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Publication reader (forthcoming)
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