Art and Activism by EnShi Liang

Task one

1272670552 — 2021-07-26 07:18:07 UTC

Activism means to express dissatisfaction with the organization and operation of the existing society, to have a negative attitude towards the existing social system, to urgently hope for radical, drastic and immediate changes to the society, and to advocate social progress. There are also differences in the degree of radicalism and left and right. Activism that tends toward a more just or scientific approach to social change tends to be left-wing activism. Those that tend to return society to the past, or even to the old value system, belong to right-wing activism. Marxism and its successors fall into the former category. He believes that the only measure of history is whether productivity was rising or falling.
In my opinion, the characteristics of activism are the pursuit of perfect ideal complex, the rebellious attitude to reality, the revolutionary impulse to overturn the old order, and the modern trend of activism.
Art activism is a new artistic phenomenon. Through art, art activism not only criticizes the art system and ordinary political life, but also criticizes the social status under the control of this system.
Art activism not only changes the interior of the art system through artistic means, but most importantly lies in the exterior of the art system, namely reality itself. To change the status quo of society through the means of art.

Task three

1272670552 — 2021-07-26 07:20:03 UTC

Banksy(1974)
Banksy donated his painting to a hospital in the UK during the first wave of COVID-19 in the summer and donated the money to the hospital for the health service. This summer he donated the proceeds from an auction of a Mediterranean Sea view 2017 (2017) to a hospital in Bethlehem for health care. Later in the summer, Banksy 's attention returned to the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean and financed the refugee rescue boat. By auctioning off his works, he donated money to hospitals for aid, as well as to help Mediterranean migrants in need.
Patrisse Cullors
The artist and activist Patrisse Cullors stated that “My art practice is an extension of my political values.” Patrisse Cullors is very concerned about racism, she is one of the most famous founders of the Black Lives Matter Movement, and she founded the Crenshaw Dairy Mart Art space in Los Angeles with artists Alexandre Dorriz and noé olivas. The art space is an extension of Cullors's focus on racial justice, as well as his anti-gentrification and prison abolition campaigns during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the finally, Patrisse Cullors remains committed to reimagining the art space as a place of care and community. It was not only influential, it was revolutionary.
Max Ernst - Europe After the Rain from 1940-42
Max Ernst had experienced the influence of Nazi politics in Germany and painted the Surrealist Landscape of Europe after the Rain, which depicts a dystopian Europe devastated after World War II. He used to be dominated by emotional loneliness, physical exhaustion and deep fear. What Ernst expresses through this painting is not only a genuine reflection on the horrors of war, but also a typical concern for humanity.
I have seen from these cases that every artist is expressing their dissatisfaction with the war or the unfair social status quo through their own art, and they are also trying to change and influence all these things with their art works. In Banksy's case, he also made a great contribution to society by helping the hospital through his artistic power. I also learned from the great power of art, through art to influence people, help people, with art to create a better world.

Artsy.2021.The Most Influential Artists of 2020. [online] Available at: [Accessed 26 July 2021].

Task four

1272670552 — 2021-07-26 11:23:04 UTC

mind map of activism