Tori Bell Response Pages 105-140

Manifesta wanted to be seen as truly international, so instead of establishing itself in one location it became nomadic. Going to a different European city every two years, responding to politics, society, and aesthetics. They also focused on emerging artists instead of established, allowing them to showcase the experimental efforts of the younger generation. Manifesta also make a point of setting up research facilities like InfoLab and collaborating with the community to figure out the most pertinent issues.

Most importantly Manifesta knows less wealthy countries do not have the finances to host a biennial so they make a point of showing plenty of works from across many regions of Europe.

"What If..." tried to emulate the structured consumer experience that is created through architecture and design. Perhaps it is because I have only seen pictures but I don’t feel that the exhibition was very impactful. They tried to be so subtle and nuanced they ended up looking like an ikea instead of probing deeper into the questions of what it means to live in a society designed for consuming. They would have been better off writing a paper.

Gothic architecture influences my work on an aesthetic level and I look at the design of older prints and ads from the 1800’s. Because I’m more interested in things from the past I think my approach and thinking is different than those who engage with contemporary ideas.