Art as Problematic Waste

The Project

Art as Problematic Waste contains of a Video installation for three projectors and four loudspeakers and a Documentary film. The makers, sound artist David Chapman (UK) and media artist Aimo Hyvärinen (FI) are well situated in their homelands concerning art related content and distribution.

Lots of art everywhere - it can be a problem too. When an artist dies, his studio is full with old artworks and even when alive some of the works need a lot of space. Where can we put all these probably interesting works? Museums cannot and will not take it all, and you cannot sell even good art easily.

"One reason why I started to make performance art was the vast amount of paintings in my studio.
A performance doesn’t leave a trail in the same way. "
Helinä Hukkataival, Performance Artist

Some artists are compelled to destroy their work. Artworks can hold great cultural and financial value. Alternatively, they can be worth less than the cost of the materials used in their production. At this point art becomes a highly problematic form of waste. How do you throw away work that may carry the value of many hours of labour? At what point does art becomes waste? What is the failure rate of even the most successful artists?

How might art as waste even cause an additional ecological problem: the over production of art as another form of consumerism? This project opens up a whole series of questions related to the functioning of the art world and art practice alongside broader issues of western material economics and pressures on the environment.

"I estimated that for the next ten years in Finland there would be at least
a milloin works of art produced"
Otso Kantokorpi, Art Critic

Art as Problematic Waste looks into the other side of art with sensitive eyes and ears, we follow some cases and make new art from these stories. Art as problematic waste is the other side of overpriced, market oriented art. Our work honors the experience of art while following the problematic ways of just too many physical works of art. Our work participates in the discussion about the changes in art paradigm and shows us a fresh perspective.

Our goal is to participate in discussion about the modern art discourse now when art is creating more and more xperience oriented content, not only expensive pictures for living room walls. We hope the project will start a discussion in the art world and wider and it is intended that the project will be supported by a catalogue of critical essays and seminars.

The Dedication

The Project is dedicated to the memory of Otso Kantokorpi, Leena Luostarinen and Erkki & Papu Pirtola.

Thanks to our supporters!