Only in this century, the paradigm of the normative, ideal form has been challenged. The relativity of art work i.e. the arbitrariness or dependency of aesthetic values on social agreement has been recognized. Simultaneously, many artists changed direction in their work towards goals more related to social issues and actions that intervene directly in this area. They realized that art does not exist in an abstract world of its own, isolated and apart from reality. The production and reception are directed by the media, by economic, social and political institutions and lobbies.

Realizing this, there is no alternative but to move in new directions that are responsive to the social role of art practice. Why shouldn't art be able to interfere directly and make concrete contributions to ecological, social, political or scientific problems? In the sense of a social response from art, possibilities exist beyond the traditional and typical use of metaphors, insinuations and art related representations.

Since 1993 an international group of artists, based in Vienna, Austria, is trying to use the credibility of art in a very pragmatic way. Through concrete interventions they focus attention upon social injustices and create achievable programs capable of addressing these problems.

© WochenKlausur, September 1998