Institutional Critique

I found Alexander Alberro's chapter “Institutions, Critique and Institutional Critique” from the book Institutional Critique: An Anthology of Artists Writings, an interesting overview of the ideas discussed within the book and a summary of the some of the main ideas circulated around institutional critique. These are just a few points that I thought were of interest.

-The 60s and 70s seemed to be a crucial time in the development of institutional critique. In particular, for artists who were taking up the ideas of how problematic the institution had become making clear that “political, economic, and ideological interests directly intervened and interfered in the production of public culture.”

-Class, nationality and race have been a dominant factor in the continued critique of the institution. For instance, the upper class’s power to purchase artworks and consequently have a large role in the realm of art by influencing museums, exhibitions and collections”. The high class culture attached to the institution greatly influence the audience and reception of art within public culture. It is discussed that an artist’s gender, race and class place them at a disadvantage within the world of art. It was also noted that 'the art institution, as much as the works that are made for it, will always be the site of these types of injustice that characterize existing conditions in society'. Art is now almost a voice for lower class and issues facing society however, this not to say that the realm of art is still not plagued with many injustices.

-The article (From the Critique of Institutions to an Institution of Critique, 2005) by Andrea Fraser discusses some really interesting ideas in relation to institutional critique, she discussed this notion that artists such as Michael Asher, who critique the relationship of the art institution, have not escaped the institution’s power struggle. Even artists that are creating work around this notion of institutional critique should understand they are also 'trapped' in the institution of art.This artist has some really intriguing ideas in relation to the institution as she states,“Its not a question of being against the institution. It’s a question of what kind of institution we are, what kind of values we institutionalise what forms of practice we reward, and what kinds of rewards we aspire to. Because the institution of art is internalised, embodied and performed by individuals, these are the questions that institutional critique demands we ask, above all, of ourselves.” In many of Andrea Fraser’s work she critiques and satires representatives and institutions of the contemporary art world - often impersonating a museum volunteer taking visitors on a tour discussing the facets of the gallery such as, a discussion of the design of the drinking fountain. In the work “Welcome to Wadsworth (1991)” the artist takes groups of visitors through the museum quoting politicians and museum literature choosing to say statements that highlight the tension between community and institution.