While some people wander aimlessly in museums and art galleries, passively absorbing art, others prefer to go beyond just the canvas and into the politics.
The Ottawa New Socialists are criticizing an exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada, called Anthropocene: The Human Epoch, for blaming climate change on individuals rather than on corporations.
Whether or not an artist intends to cause a political stir with their work, if the work contains commentary or a portrayal of real-life issues, it will garner a reaction from people in society who also feel strongly about these issues.
Ian Angus, author of Facing the Anthropocene: Fossil Capitalism and the Crisis of the Earth System, told the Charlatan that the exhibit does highlight the issue, but climate change can only be resolved by eliminating capitalism.
While art is pleasing to look at, it has also increasingly become a medium for political and social mobilization towards change. Art is inherently political because it’s an expression and manifestation of artists’ views and feelings.
Art can be political and promote a certain view, while also being beautiful in the process.
