RTV MAG on WORK // The Materiality of Work. On the Necessity of Boredom in the World of Performance

Rafał Żarski, Daily Mutation, 2018

Every work, even creative, cognitive or affective one, begins in the body, is carried out by it, and leaves a trace in it. From the perspective of the body the only thing, which distinguishes a daily curatorial job performed in a cultural institution from an administrative one is a used software, strain on the spine stays the same.

This fact coincides with the thesis of the materiality of all labour introduced by Artur Szarecki in his book “Somatic Capitalism: Body and Power in the Corporate Culture”, in which he analyses the disciplining nature of capitalism from its early Taylor-Fordist roots, to the contemporary management systems focused on the self-optimizing individuals. Nevertheless, the source of labour and the subject of control is always a working body, even if we reduce it to the fingertips typing on the keyboard.

Capitalism keeps adding new technologies to a set of disciplining measures existing since the end of the 19th century, and, what from the proposed materialistic perspective could be even more important, also knowledge of social sciences, psychology, and culture. 21st century worker is a performer, not separating him- or herself from the product of their work, mastering the art of self-presentation on the real-life and virtual stages, devoting his or her “free time” to filling the popular social media portals with photos taken at events, trips, vernissages and vogue balls. Such a worker is always on stand-by, even at night, never off.

 

http://magazynrtv.com/en/

 

Poznań with no evictions, exploitation, and poverty! 25 years of Rozbrat! 26.07-29.09.2019 / Arsenal Municipal Gallery

http://www.arsenal.art.pl/en/events/poznan-with-no-evictions-exploitation-and-poverty-25-years-of-rozbrat/

The exhibition “Poznań with no evictions, exploitation, and poverty! 25 years of Rozbrat!” is an attempt to present the multi-layered, socially, ecologically, and culturally engaged activity of the Rozbrat collective. In order to bring visitors closer to the most relevant local issues, we have divided the exhibition into eight thematic sections: tenants’ movement, workers’ movement, culture without censorship, printing matter, social feminism, environmental issues, anti-war activities, social campaigns and initiatives. Each issue is presented on a separate infographic. Additionally, zines, newspapers and brochures published by the Rozbrat collective are available on spot. The subject of the tenants’ movement is supplemented by the documentary film made during the protests against the displacement of the residents of the house at Stolarska Street and for the liquidation of a container housing estate in Poznań. In turn, workers’ matters are taken up by a film titled “Płyta/Plate”, documenting protests of Cegielski’s employees and a video referring to the collective labor dispute at Amazon.

The exhibition aims to draw attention to the issues of privatizing public space, appropriating green areas by developers, and limiting access to common areas. Rozbrat, as an important culture-creating place existing on the map of Poznań for a quarter of a century, should not disappear from it due to economic pressure and private interests.

04.09 On the links between capitalism and fascism, art and anti-fascist movements. Class solidarity rather than national solidarity

http://www.arsenal.art.pl/en/events/on-the-links-between-capitalism-and-fascism-art-and-anti-fascist-movements/