bac!05 – international festival of contemporary art in barcelona sixth edition – from november 8th to december 11th 2005

International ArtExpo and Luca Curci, coordinated by Karenina Fabrizzi, in partnership with Gigi R. Harrington (director of La Santa), presents Art and Violence, a selection of 12 videoartists on the theme of violence.

Art and Violence. Contemporary art has become more and more engaged with the representation of violence. Artists have been using violence in their art for a very long time. Today they look at how violence in visual culture has affected our society and our views on violence. Many artists draw on personal experience to create their artwork and have experienced violence personally.

Other artists are inspired by images of historical acts of violence, others chose to address contemporary issues of violence such as domestic abuse, rape, homophobic acts, genocide, racial hatred, war crimes and sanctioned executions. Sometimes we see artists making art about difficult subjects as an act of defiance. It can allow artists to have a voice and not be silenced or ignored. Art can bring out things that we may suppress or try to hide deep down in our unconscious. Art can give us a way to help us confront our personal demons and can actually help us to heal from terrible experiences of violence.
Is violence in art an action, reaction, or reflection? Luca Curci

.places
CCCB Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona – La Santa Proyectos Culturales, Barcelona