NICC is presenting a preview of the new publication "Zonder Kunstenaars Geen Kunstboek”, as well as a part of its archive and some of its published editions and printed matter.
Around the end of 2019, NICC organized the growing exhibition project "Zonder kunstenaars geen kunst” (Without Artists No Art) at M HKA, which was an artistic reaction to the precarious situation of artists created by the government. For more than three months artists created a visual and artistic resistance against the funding cuts (-60%) on culture by the Flemish government.
We invited the 62 participants again to contribute to the publication with the question of how art can react to urgent matters. In other words, how can we as artists be combative in an interesting artistic way? The publication is not only a document about the exhibition but will also be a new space to again interact with. The new contributions are printed in poster format and will be exhibited in the BOTANICC and in public space.
The title of the AA project refers to how artists can or should be activistic. (Antwerp Art refuses to see BOTANICC as an artist-run space although all members of NICC have to be professional artists) Activism does not always result in good art. Did activism become a hollow concept? Did activism become a lifestyle? When and where is artistic activism disturbing, provoking, or just irritating? The artists in BOTANICC will focus on these questions and statements.
Artists: AARS, Chantal Akerman, Constant Aline, ASTRID collectief, Selin Aydinol, Martha Balthazar & Carole De Buck, Fred Bervoets, Maria Blondeel, BRUiTAL, Adriana Bustos, Christine Clinckx, CMMC, Leo Copers, Anne Daems, Hanna-Lee Daled, Bart De Baere, Goele De Bruyn, Pieter De Clercq, Gilles Dedecker, Jos De Gruyter & Harald Thys, Edith Dekyndt, Luc Deleu / T.O.P. office, Daniël Dewaele, Ian De Weerdt, DOLLY BING BING, Ecole Mondiale, Hanane El Farissi, Dodi Espinosa, Katya EV, Peter Fengler, Helen Anna Flanagan, Milan Gillard, Carina Gosselé & Michael Laird, Justine Grillet, Jenny Holzer, HUGO, Paul Joostens, Nikolay Karabinovych, Sanam Khatibi, Frank Koolen, José Koppies, John Körmeling, Diego Lama, Willia Menzel, Ludo Mich, Peter Morrens, Ria Pacquée, Lieven Paelinck, patrieswicherspoeticaction, Toon Saerens, Self Luminous Society, Boy & Erik Stappaerts, State of the Arts, Mark Swysen, Oussama Tabti, Koen Theys, Walter Vaes, Thé Van Bergen, Luca Vanello, Wouter Van Loo, Wout Vercammen, Leen Voet, Z V E Z D O L I K I