Prepared: Strategies for Activists (William T. Kemper Foundation International Artist-in-Residence Chen Shaoxiong)

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

Prepared: Strategies for Activists (William T. Kemper Foundation International Artist-in-Residence Chen Shaoxiong)
Prepared: Strategies for Activists (William T. Kemper Foundation International Artist-in-Residence Chen Shaoxiong)
Kris Ercums, curator
Central Court, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

The result of Beijing-based artist Chen Shaoxiong’s month-long residency in March 2012, Prepared: Strategies for Activists, is a dynamic multi-media installation that delves into the complexities of contemporary social activism, drawing on the perspectives of a diverse cast of contributors, including scholars, students, artists, and activists.

In light of recent political movements around the world in 2011—from the Arab Spring to Occupy Wall Street—Chen conceived his project as an attempt to better understand the "anatomy of a protest." A primary aim of the project is to foster a better understanding of the broader historical and cultural iterations of demonstration strategies and tactics deployed around the world.

During the course of Chen's residency, the Museum became a "training camp for activists"—a site for sustained inquiry into protest strategies and activist discourse. With its grassroots approach to exhibition-making, Prepared: Strategies for Activists attempts to embody the organic, dynamic processes of the protest in action.

A substantial part of the exhibition comprises artwork dealing with demonstration tactics. The exhibition also features protest artifacts that trace the turbulent history of social activism in the 20th century, including banners, posters, and other ephemera that range from local 1980s anti-nuclear activism to more recent events by Occupy Wall Street. Drawn from the Spencer’s permanent collection, a timeline charts different historical iterations of protests and includes documentary photography and works on paper by artists Bullet Space, Andre Devambez, Lesbia Vent Dumois, Archie Scott Gobber, Guerrilla Girls, Lewis Wickes Hine, Hugo Kaagman, Michael Krueger, Alex Lukas, Josh MacPhee, Lee Neary, Sean O'Neil, Marion Palfi, Alexander Rodchenko, Arthur S. Siegel, Andy Warhol, and Dan Wynn.

This project and exhibition are supported by the William T. Kemper Foundation. The Spencer’s international residency series has also been supported by the Freeman Foundation and the Center for East Asian Studies, the University of Kansas.

Exhibition images

Works of art

Guerrilla Girls (active 1985–present), Do women have to be naked to get into the Met. Museum?
Guerrilla Girls (active 1985–present)
1989
Bullet Space (1985–present), portfolio cover
Bullet Space (1985–present)
1990–1991
Sean O'Neil, 4 More Years!
Sean O'Neil
2004
Barbara Kruger (born 1945), We Will No Longer Be Seen and Not Heard
Barbara Kruger (born 1945)
1985
Lee Neary, Iraq
Lee Neary
after 2003
Debra Thimmesch, Bank of America: FU" Toilet seat
Debra Thimmesch
2012
Debra Thimmesch, Lauren DiGioia, Allegra Culpepper, Tu Leister (members of Occupy Wall Street Direct Action Working Group's subgroup, +Brigades), ALEC Exposed banner
Debra Thimmesch, Lauren DiGioia, Allegra Culpepper, Tu Leister (members of Occupy Wall Street Direct Action Working Group's subgroup, +Brigades)
2012
Tent
2012
Cassie Zook, Hooker Red Lips
Cassie Zook
2012
Bullet Space (1985–present), endpaper
Bullet Space (1985–present)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present), colophon
Bullet Space (1985–present)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present), dedication
Bullet Space (1985–present)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present), text
Bullet Space (1985–present)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); Paul Castrucci (born 1978), Landscape
Bullet Space (1985–present); Paul Castrucci (born 1978)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); Stash Two (born 1967), Subway Map
Bullet Space (1985–present); Stash Two (born 1967)
1990
Bullet Space (1985–present); Dennis Thomas (born 1955); Day Gleeson (born 1948), Homelessness at Work
Bullet Space (1985–present); Dennis Thomas (born 1955); Day Gleeson (born 1948)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); Juan Sánchez (born 1954), Donde Esta Mi Casa?
Bullet Space (1985–present); Juan Sánchez (born 1954)
1990
Bullet Space (1985–present); Martin Wong (1946–1999), Viva Tu Vida En Loisaida
Bullet Space (1985–present); Martin Wong (1946–1999)
1990
Bullet Space (1985–present); Betzaida Concepción (born 1977), By Betsy
Bullet Space (1985–present); Betzaida Concepción (born 1977)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); Seth Tobocman (born 1958), Umbrella House
Bullet Space (1985–present); Seth Tobocman (born 1958)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); Red David Rodriguez (born 1958), S.O.S. Tompkins Square Park
Bullet Space (1985–present); Red David Rodriguez (born 1958)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); Marguerite van Cook (born 1954); James Romberger (born 1958), We're Concerned, Are You?
Bullet Space (1985–present); Marguerite van Cook (born 1954); James Romberger (born 1958)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); Neighborhood News, Stop Warehousing Apartments
Bullet Space (1985–present); Neighborhood News
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); David Wojnarowicz (1954–1992), Democracy at Work
Bullet Space (1985–present); David Wojnarowicz (1954–1992)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); Lee Quiñones (born 1960); Eduardo Hughes Galeano (1940–2015), Century of the Wind
Bullet Space (1985–present); Lee Quiñones (born 1960); Eduardo Hughes Galeano (1940–2015)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); Lady Pink (born 1964), Under the Brooklyn Bridge
Bullet Space (1985–present); Lady Pink (born 1964)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); Sebastian Schroder (born 1961), Untitled
Bullet Space (1985–present); Sebastian Schroder (born 1961)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); Missing Foundation (founded 1984), The Cement Has Been Poured
Bullet Space (1985–present); Missing Foundation (founded 1984)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); Walter Sipser (born 1961), Crutch
Bullet Space (1985–present); Walter Sipser (born 1961)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); William Bruce Witsiepe (1951–1995), Hail Disaster
Bullet Space (1985–present); William Bruce Witsiepe (1951–1995)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); Will Sales (1928–2013), Death of a Neighborhood
Bullet Space (1985–present); Will Sales (1928–2013)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); Vincent William Gagliostro (born 1954); Avram Finkelstein (born 1952), Enjoy AZT (ACT UP)
Bullet Space (1985–present); Vincent William Gagliostro (born 1954); Avram Finkelstein (born 1952)
1990–1991

Events

February 29, 2012
Activity
12:00–1:00PM
Gallery 317 Central Court
March 2, 2012
Activity
9:00–11:00AM
March 7, 2012
Workshop
5:30–7:30PM
Gallery 317 Central Court
March 8, 2012
Workshop
4:30–7:30PM
March 9, 2012
Activity
12:00–12:30PM
Gallery 317 Central Court
March 14, 2012
Workshop
5:30–7:30PM
Gallery 317 Central Court
March 15, 2012
Talk
12:00–1:00PM
Gallery 317 Central Court
March 16, 2012
Activity
12:00–12:30PM
Gallery 317 Central Court
March 28, 2012
Workshop
5:30–7:30PM
Gallery 317 Central Court
March 30, 2012
Activity
12:00–12:30PM
Gallery 317 Central Court
April 2, 2012
Talk
2:00–4:00PM
Gallery 317 Central Court
April 5, 2012
Social
5:30–7:30PM
Gallery 317 Central Court
April 11, 2012
Social
5:30–7:30PM
317 Central Court, Multiple Galleries
April 11, 2012
Talk
5:30–6:00PM
July 12, 2012
Screening
5:45–6:45PM
309 Auditorium