A new Contemporary Communities project by Vitalstatistix

Vitalstatistix’s Contemporary Communities initiative develops and present multi-year projects that commission new art around contemporary issues, experimentation and deep social engagement (most recently Climate Century, 2014-2018).

In 2020 we are launching a project called Bodies of Work, exploring the broad territory of labour, labour organising, artists as workers, and the future of work.

Precarity, the contemporary experience of labour, labour rights and just economic transition are all critical concerns in the face of the triple global existential threats of environmental, neoliberal economic and health crises. There is also a rich body of work by artists globally in this area including the Art and Working Life initiative of the 80s and 90s in Australia.

Bodies of Work kicks off in 2020 with a one-week conceptual lab where invited artists will explore the themes and possibilities of the project through research and development with each other and with non-artists, including labour leaders.

As part of the lab we will hold a public event of artist talks, readings and discussion to launch the multi-year Bodies of Work process. Join us – coincidently on the evening that the American election results should become known, 4 November – for deep conversation (and probably some hard liquor).

Image: Sia Duff, from Iron Lady, Rebecca Conroy, 2017