Art Monthly Talk Show

John Douglas Millar discusses the ethics and aesthetics of docu-art as practised by artists such as Renzo Martens, Harun Farocki and Aernout Mik, and asks: does art’s subjectivity give it a unique angle on the exploitation of tragedy? Andrew Hunt, meanwhile, suggests that optimism and humour are intelligent alternatives to the cynicism of postmodern irony.

Andrew Hunt and Jennifer Thatcher discuss new trends and approaches to gallery design, and a new book, Curating and the Educational Turn, which suggests that a shift towards education pervades current curatorial practice.

Coline Milliard and Mark Prince discuss the the literary tendency in contemporary art, and the recent Falmouth Convention where the keynote speech was by Lucy Lippard.

Theorist Dan Smith talks to host Matt Hale about current use of the spiritual in art, and artist and activist John Jordan discusses Liberate Tate’s recent protest against BP sponsorship at Tate’s summer party while critic JJ Charlesworth argues that the activists oversimplified the issue.

Artist Dean Kenning and poet Cherry Smyth join Matt Hale to discuss Kenning’s feature on relational, collaborative artwork in the public realm – in particular projects by David Collins and Emma Hart in Morpeth School, Bethnal Green, London – and Smyth’s review of Rachel Harrison’s exhibition at the Whitechapel Art Gallery.

Gilda Williams and Maria Walsh join Matt Hale to discuss ways in which artists utilise the difference between ruined buildings and the merely derelict, and how Hannah Sawtell’s films analyse entropy in the age of the digital.

Sally O’Reilly and Mark Prince join Matt Hale to discuss the work of John Smith and the idea of artists as curators of the self.

Patricia Bickers and Alex Coles discuss the work of artist Sturtevant, appropritation in both visual art and advertising, and the failure of ‘designart’.

Matt Hale talks to Colin Perry and Gavin Grindon. Perry has written about artists who use the law as an artistic medium; something that can be manipulated and tested. He is joined by Grindon who writes about art and activism. Grindon has recently returned from the Climate Conference in Copenhagen and he tells us about the new forms of art and activism he saw out there.

Host Matt Hale talks to Peter Suchin about Terry Smith’s show at The Foundling Museum and Colin Perry about Chen Chieh-jen’s exhibition at Iniva, while Dave Beech scrutinises the face of Conservative cultural policy in the form of Roger Scruton’s new book on beauty.

Patricia Bickers and Jennifer Thatcher discuss the convergence of artistic and entrepreneurial values, and the ‘Pop Life’ exhibition at Tate Modern.

Matt Hale discusses Modern and Conceptual Art with Rachel Garfield and Mark Prince.

Matt Hale in conversation with Alex Coles and Rikke Hansen discussing art criticism.

Matt Hale in conversation with Dave Beech and Paul Usherwood discussing the fall of public art.

Matt Hale in conversation with Maxa Zoller and Colin Perry discussing the history of artists’ films.

Matt Hale in conversation with Patricia Bickers and Lisa Le Feuvre discussing the 53rd Venice Biennale.

Matt Hale in conversation with Michael Corris and Richard Grayson discussing the economy of art.

Matt Hale in discussion with Sally O’Reilly and Rikke Hansen talking about themed group exhibitions.

Matt Hale discusses the student occupation of Byam Shaw School of Art with Jamie Wagg, Jon Rees and Jessica Scott.

Matt Hale in conversation with Peter Suchin and Colin Perry discussing Nicolas Bourriaud‘s exhibition ‘Tate Triennial: Altermodern’ and A Brief History of Curating by Hans Ulrich Obrist.