A Guide to Killing Still Life

Abstract

The use of interventionist art to effect the neoliberal status quo was studied through a research creation at The University of Alberta in the form of a guerilla style art show. The main goal was to apply Chantal Mouffe’s theory of Agonistic Space, Donella Meadows’ Leverage Points, and Lawrence Lessig’s theory of The Read/Write interfacing with media to investigate how public the University of Alberta’s space was, while obtaining information about the public’s interaction in embodying artistry of a post-commodification, post-commercial, post-neoliberalism, nature.The results were inconclusive due to the fact the art show was taken down. It is unknown if more than one person was involved in the removal decision. The engagement with the remaining art showed that the Bitcoin donation idea was not successful. There was acknowledgement that the space was in question, rather than the art, when two classical, well-framed prints were placed where the other art was removed. They too were removed, regardless of their more traditional appearance.