18.12.17 – 22.12.17, 09:00, The Dinner Party - Masterclass by Heidi Voet

"A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous." Chairman Mao, 1927

In a world that increasingly builds on consumerism, crude political statements and polarizing opinions about religion, we will look back at the old fashioned 'etiquette' that defines Politics, Sex and Religion as the three main topics to be avoided at a dinner party. Should we, as artists, follow the rules of the polite dinner party and gently sidestep these topics or do we need to address these subjects in order to respond to a changing society? As we have recently seen a large number of politically charged exhibitions, we ponder whether art needs to change the world or could art be a sanctuary for other concerns? Can artworks indeed trigger real societal changes or is our job as artists to create an antidote to society's woes?

During this workshop we will look at artworks, exhibitions and artists' interviews that work(ed) with the political, look at how gender and sexuality is currently addressed by feminist and queer artists, and think about the effects of a globalized art world where soon the majority of the artists might not be raised in a Judeo-Christian tradition (e.g. U.S.A./Europe) anymore and own a diverse cultural heritage (e.g. African, Asian, Middle Eastern).

The outcome of the workshop could be an artwork, an exhibition, an essay or possibly a(n) (im)polite dinner party.

This masterclass is organised by the Master Fine Arts.

More information via paul.casaer@hogent.be