Exhibition Information
12th Juried Art Exhibition
According to the Cambridge Dictionary online : “post-truth is relating to a situation in which people are more likely to accept an argument based on their emotions and beliefs, rather than one based on facts. For example: ‘his lecture was entitled "Fake News in a Post-truth World’.”
According to John Tompkins in his article Post-Truth and Philosophy: “We live with truth all around us and yet some people readily embrace lies. Everywhere you turn among the academics and pundits, we constantly are fed a stream of rhetoric about how we live in a ‘post-truth’ world. Somehow, as the narrative goes, we have given up on the notion that words can mirror reality. There have been many attempts to define what ‘post-truth’ actually is. Some simply describe it as the new era where truth just doesn’t matter or that people can spread lies without being called to task. I think, however, it’s more nuanced than that”
However, I personally believe that most people do care about truth. It is veracity of supporting facts that some people have abandoned. Adherents to either side of the political spectrum will often point to biased sources of information (whether it’s Fox News, MSNBC or various Facebook pages) and use them to support what they feel is the truth. “Truth does still matter, but for some, it remains only an idol. The argumentative value of that idol is priceless for those peddling propaganda. And sometimes, especially today, a person convinced that a lie is actually true can be more effective than the person selling the lie.” (TOMPKINS. J. 2018, Post-Truth and Philosophy, https://blog.apaonline.org/2018/06/25/post-truth-and-philosophy/, 25 June)
In the light of the above concise conceptual background, please respond to the following questions/challenges in your work:
- Do you value “truth” in your own life and creative practice?
- What is the difference between a “fact” and an “opinion?
- Did you encounter “post-truth” on especially social media during the Covid-19 pandemic? If so, did post-truth influence your creative practice in any way?
- Do you believe that we are “all in the Covid-19 pandemic together”?
- What is wrong today in our discourse, whether it’s a “debate” among pundits on a cable show, arguments with online outrage warriors or a spirited conversation with relatives? When we have an opinion about a particular topic, do we try to bolster that opinion with what we believe are facts?
- Do you ever fact check your personal research before creating a new artwork?
With the abovementioned questions in mind, I would invite all the participating artists to express their views/voices by creating a new (or entering an existing artwork) in any preferred style (painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, or any other 2D medium) addressing the pressing issues of “post truth” and fake news in the world at present. Sculptors are also invited to submit 2D archival pigment prints of their sculpture if they so wish. All the works submitted should preferably be for sale. For curatorial purposes, each submission should include a concise one-paragraph artist’s statement.
I personally hold the opinion that the human race is in dire need of truth, compassion and tolerance right now, at this point in our history.
Best wishes.
Christiaan Diedericks (curator) – Cape Town, South Africa
The Artwork with the most Likes on this page will receive the Popular Vote Award from our Gallery. The Curator's Award, The Gallery Award, and The Popular Vote Award will be announced by Sunday, May 23, 2021.
Location: Online Exhibition
Exhibition Dates: 10 May 2021 - 21 May 2021