By implementing a distinctive, raw democratic selection process, “Democracy’s Uncharted Territories” departs from conventional curatorial practices. Inspired by the intricacies of Romanian democracy, the project explores the conflicts between public participation and the constraints of representative systems. The basis of the curatorial approach is the concept of participatory democracy, which emphasises the involvement of citizens in decision-making processes (Smith, 2009). This framework challenges the traditional role of the curator as the sole arbiter of artistic merit, promoting a more inclusive and collaborative environment. However, it acknowledges the limitations of direct democracy, where every citizen has an equal say in every decision. At the same time, it analyses the use of the concept by Romanian cultural actors when and where there is a direct interest: for example, in Romania, the selection of certain key officials as well as directors of cultural institutions remains undemocratic, highlighting the potential shortcomings of pure participation (Stoker, 2006).
Image Credit: Bogdan Matei, Still Image, CGI, Two double combo menus video installation, 2020
For BB9, curator Henk Slager is interested in evaluating—the dominance of—the concept of research and its related trends of thought in the contemporary art world. To this end he will—in collaboration with a number of decisive research centers—develop a constructive contribution to the re-thinking of the current artistic research discourse. Moreover, consideration will be given to finding a suitable, topical form of presentation. Related to this, attention will be paid to the role and significance of biennials as platforms for the production and circulation of ideas.
Image Credit: Claudia Brăileanu, “Seamless Affinities”, screenshot, installation & project realized in VR, work-in-progress, 2020