Against Competition: ABC No Rio in Exile at Flux Factory

About

Seeking an alternative to the competitive atmosphere of art production and exhibition, this project is based on the idea that art should exist as a venture that nourishes collaboration. As such, competitive approaches should be replaced by more mutualist and participatory practices.

Unlike a traditional exhibition, the premise of Against Competition/Towards Mutual Aid requires all artists to propose works themed around mutual aid; those projects will be realized by all of the artists collaboratively over the course of a month. A core part of the exhibition will be the sharing of materials, skills, and labor. Visions will be realized, but not necessarily as originally imagined; this is part of the excitement of the project.

The work for this project will be planned in January, implemented and installed the first week of February, and made available to the public on Wednesday February 8. There will be a closing party and reception on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14.

On February 9, as part of Flux Thursdays, Flux Factory and ABC No Rio will present the panel Artist as Ally. Please join us for a potluck and discussion, as four artists will share how they engage the arts in ways that address social issues.

Against Competition/Towards Mutual Aid expands on an ABC No Rio project of several years ago that was inspired in part by Marc Fischer’s essay “Against Competition” and consisted of artworks made cooperatively by an artist and another who helped realize their vision.

Artists participating in Against Competition/Towards Mutual Aid include Razan AlSalah, Rachel Brown, Lee Brozgol, Kerry Cox, Elizabeth Demaray, Rachel Haberstroh, Robert Hieger, Rachel Hillery, Christopher Lin, Jemila MacEwan, Firoz Mahmud, Liz Naiden + Anatole Hocek, Patrícia Silva, Alex Strada, Julieta Triangular, Moira Williams, Ariel Zakarison, and Joanie Fritz Zosike.