Epimenides’ Lessons
To begin, let’s clarify a couple of definitions: a work of art is raw material for documentation. The gallery is the setting wherein the work is photographed. An exhibition is an excuse to publish a catalogue. A theoretical introduction is the template for its English translation. Text and illustrations are material for graphic layouts. The cover of the printed catalogue is the basis for photographs published online. The artist’s name is a tool for internet searches. The internet is the dominant means of production for neoliberal capitalism. Battles in the field of art run parallel, in capitalism, to political and social battles; as a show that distracts from the process where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The production of culture only legitimizes growth in barbarianism and I can’t do anything about it.
Václav Magid
- The exhibition is called Epimenides' Lessons00:00:18.466
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- which indicates we shouldn't00:00:21.941
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- take it too seriously but at the same time00:00:25.604
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- we don't know whether to take it non-seriously00:00:29.888
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- considering the meaning of Epimedes.00:00:35.127
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- We could say it is an exhibition about dilettantism,00:00:45.444
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- either deliberate or forced one.00:00:51.367
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- Part of the exhibition are short texts of00:00:55.694
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- let's say a parodically essaistic nature,00:00:59.574
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- which combine the language of Marxist and post-Marxist00:01:03.552
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- theories with relatively trivial everyday remarks.00:01:07.785
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- Utopian Society00:01:19.914
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- In an Utopian society, it's generally known,00:01:26.709
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- we are allowed to do one thing today and another one tomorrow...00:01:28.883
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- Hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon,00:01:31.146
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- raise cattle in the evening, criticise after eating,00:01:33.208
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- whenever I feel like it, without becoming00:01:35.084
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- a hunter, a fisherman, a herdsman or a critic.00:01:36.683
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- As also generally known, in our situation is typical00:01:39.764
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- to do one thing today and another tomorrow.00:01:41.486
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- In the morning we work for money, in the afternoon we do shopping,00:01:44.467
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- in the evening we do household jobs and after meal we stuff social networks00:01:46.670
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- with our critical attitudes until our eyelids droop.00:01:48.725
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- We do all this as we like without becoming permanently employed,00:01:50.824
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- ignoring the origin of products we buy,00:01:53.219
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- without paying off our mortgages or worrying whether our critique changes anything.00:01:55.282
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- Consequence00:02:00.173
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- We live in an utopian society.00:02:01.881
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- As for the dilettantism...00:02:07.421
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- We may see it as something with an emancipative potential00:02:09.324
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- of getting rid of being pinned up to a profession00:02:13.970
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- or a clearly given place in the society.00:02:19.112
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- It can be related to the typical Marxist critique of labour division,00:02:22.580
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- it can also be used in connection with the art world.00:02:27.337
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- These days the specialty development of artists00:02:31.688
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- and the art world professionalization00:02:34.407
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- is being criticised, which is far away00:02:38.994
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- from romantic ideals of an authentic artist.00:02:42.341
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- The idea if dilettantism bears doing many00:02:46.563
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- other things in addition to art,00:02:50.956
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- but we are not bound by any profession00:02:52.765
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- and we are free to any self or even creative actualization.00:02:56.797
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- The theme of dilettantism can be viewed also from the opposite side,00:03:05.336
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- these days there is still less and less permanent work certainty,00:03:12.905
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- not many people have profession they have qualified for,00:03:18.167
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- the fact we are forced to change jobs is becoming a standard...00:03:25.137
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- Such dilettantism is becoming a common part00:03:42.846
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- of many people lives, not only artists'.00:03:47.597
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- And the result is far away from all utopian ideals.00:03:51.525
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- It's rather a permanent feeling of being insufficient00:03:56.804
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- in everything we do because our situation00:04:02.517
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- doesn't allow us a full blast or00:04:05.466
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- to do anything properly because we have to00:04:08.284
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- change our activities over all the time in order to survive.00:04:11.091
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- It's one of the themes being reflected at the exhibition and00:04:17.249
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- it also reflects the way the exhibition is made.00:04:21.698
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- The intention or theme fades away00:04:26.849
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- as well as the consequence of being in such situation00:04:29.973
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- and the fact we can't engage in anything properly00:04:34.837
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- is a long-term system problem and not any00:04:39.742
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- temporary situation of an individual I guess.00:04:45.685