SITAC Clinics SITAC IX

Clinics SITAC IX

DIRECTOR SOL HENARO

The clinics projected for IX SITAC Theory and practice of catastrophe were designed with this desire in mind: implicating other agents of contemporary production, and creating an interest in the study/observation of the complexity of everyday life through which to counteract or re-signify its reverberation in the artistic field. For thisedition, we involved a philosopher, a writer, and a group of designer-environmentalists who would offer different perspectives from their diverse experiences of knowledge and allow us to approximate and/or problematize this notion of the catastrophic. Contemporary thinking can’t limit itself to specific disciplines. The producers that can be sensitive to the world are those who are able to transition between disciplines and erase limitations in order to open up their mind and field of action/intervention. The clinics worked with hybrid formats. A group of collaborators met together in a seminar format to work through some outlines of thinking and some of the questions raised by SITAC’s director. These spaces of contemplation, reflection, and dialog were conceived as parallel opportunities to SITAC in order to continue unravelling the concepts, problems, and other meanings in order to activate arguments and reflective critiques involving the upcoming itineraries-gestures:

a) Corporality and Catastrophe with Fabian Giménez Gatto

b) Apocalyptic Narratives and the Ugly Future with Gonzalo Soltero, and

c) A workshop on adaptation designed by TOA (environmental operations workshop)

After the three days of SITAC’s conference on Saturday, February 5th 2011, about 48 people got together in order to evaluate and share their experiences. Among the group was each of the clinic’s coordinators, as well as participants from the three clinics all gathered at the SOMA’s patio looking to open a dialog and produce this way a conversation within all participants and those in charge of putting together this edition, including also future “clinicians.” Participants were invited to a collective/honest dialogue on the formats of SITAC, as well as the pros and cons of the CLINICS and their frailties. The need to openly face and expose the problems that arose was emphasized so that each and every one of us left with our own reflections, dissatisfactions and new strengths.

Several points to improve upon:

• The lack of continuity in SITAC discussion tables.
• The naiveté of the artists when exploring strange worlds through their work.
• The weakness of some of the moderators on SITAC discussion panels.
• In order to generate new forms of action and collective participation they had to use the culture of regret as a way to allow the development of new formats and to create participation.
• Avoid programming the clinics so they overlap, allowing people to attend more than one clinic.
• The possibility of continuing the exchange/relationship outside the clinic format
• The direct link between SITAC and the perceived invisibility of the clinics within that format.
• The lack of time to share and evaluate the work of the participants.
• The choice to successfully broaden the margins between the various areas of knowledge production rather than limiting it to the realm of contemporary art.
• The participants had little interest in reaching an agreement but rather gave each other a “pat on the back” instead of bringing up doubts, reflections, or stimulating constructive criticism.
• The fact of the matter is that the spaces arise as “spaces of power,” and their importance lies in questioning their own hierarchical structures (problematizing the docent-student relationship)
• The importance of collective reflection and exchange at the end of the clinics and at the end of SITAC was said to be important.

New ideas and suggestions were offered, such as:

• To set out “organic” clinics and seek to make them starting points for the beginning of new projects.
• Extending the time frame for the clinics in order to achieve more depth.
• Not regulating the work and spaces of debate. Make SITAC and the clinics continuous processes throughout the year. (Plan with more time in advance of the events/seminars for SITAC)
• Generate a blog or another way to gather lectures and other materials that can enrich and encourage further dialogue prior to the clinics.
• Create space within the clinics so that each participant learns about their projects.
• Keep in mind the stages of the clinics before, during and after SITAC.
• To ponder upon the idea of the clinics as starting points, or devices that allows new projects to happen.
• Consider the differences in form and dynamic between theoretical and practical workshops that can integrate the interests and benefit the clinics.
• Increase media coverage possibilities and communication of SITAC and the clinics using social networking tools.

We began the session by gathering everyone together in a large circle, which then ended with an invitation to converse in smaller groups, to share and listen the ‘playlist of the catastrophe’ conducted from the clinics coordinated by TOA. The assistants continued to exchange ideas and thoughts for a while still, and some of us are in constant communication. Some complicities took root and then transformed into rhizome…