Art after Liberalism by Nicholas Gamso

Description

In “Art After Liberalism,” Nicholas Gamso embarks on a profound odyssey into the heart of creative expression amidst the tumultuous crossroads of societal upheaval, where the failures of liberal orthodoxy serve as both catalyst and crucible for emergent modes of artistic practice and communal existence.

At this juncture of converging social crises, the once stalwart pillars of liberal thought crumble beneath the weight of their own inadequacies, leaving in their wake a landscape rife with disillusionment and despair. Gone are the days when the nation-state, the entrepreneurial individual, and the promise of endless progress held sway over the collective imagination.

In their stead, Gamso beckons readers to confront the harsh realities of enslavement, colonization, and ecological devastation concealed beneath the veneer of liberal ideology. No longer can platitudes of inclusion and representation suffice in the face of systemic inequities and moral debts that plague society.

Through a series of evocative essays, Gamso charts a course through the labyrinthine corridors of contemporary artistic practice, tracing the itinerant journeys of artists, artworks, and art publics as they navigate the treacherous waters of comparative political landscapes. Along the way, he offers poignant speculations on the interplay between art and social experience in the aftermath of liberal modernity.

At the heart of the book lies a conversation with Amin Husain and Nitasha Dhillon of MTL Collective, illuminating the transformative potential of artistic expression as a catalyst for collective action and societal transformation in a world teetering on the brink of change.