Several initiatives which are allowing different groups to add culture to the mix of the factors which contribute to their well-being are implemented by the UGM Maribor Art Gallery in Slovenia, within the Art & Well-being project.
“Can contemporary art cater to the needs of the everyday man?” That is the title of the art project by the art duo Monotremu, composed of Laura Borotea and Gabriel Boldiș. The artists designed a leaflet on which they offer a multifaceted answer to the original question, while opening up space for even more questions. The form and content of the leaflet imitate religious printed materials, only that in this case the role of a higher power is replaced by the role of contemporary art. The result is a satirical gesture, by which the artists question their position in society, while also addressing the numerous prejudices that are held by many about contemporary art and contemporary artists. At the same time, a healthy dose of self-aware irony does not escape the artists, as the art world may often give the impression of idolatry of contemporary art, its shrines (museums, galleries, biennials, fairs), its priests (artists, curators, gallerists) and its rites (openings, auctions), in much similar ways as various religious divisions often do.
The leaflet has yet another function. It serves as a one-time free ticket for a visit to the Maribor Art Gallery between July 2020 and May 2021. Within Art & Well-being project a larger number of “cultural prescriptions” will be distributed among the public; invitations to visit the gallery and events are free of charge. Based on a questionnaire, UGM will collect feedback from those who will visit them using the “cultural prescriptions”, and the data collected will be the basis for research done towards the end of the project. The leaflet will be distributed in public spaces across Slovenia.
The art project Can contemporary art cater to the needs of the everyday man? by the duo Monotremu (Laura Borotea and Gabriel Boldiș) was selected through an open call from among more than 170 projects from 19 countries.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
