Experiments in Art and Economics by ZKM and In4Art

Experiments in Art and Economics is a short-term Residency Program by In4Art and ZKM | Karlsruhe

In the 21st Century economic frameworks should be rethought and reconceived. In the 20th Century, we have seen the rise of at least two sides of mainstream economic thinking for which we pressingly need alternatives to be able to co-exist now and in the near future. The first being the neoclassical economic idea of human beings being rational agents who act as optimal decision makers. The second being the neoliberal idea of pursuit for endless economic growth. The financial crisis of 2008, the climate crisis and the current pandemic have shown the world that we can’t return to normal, because the normal that we had was precisely the problem.

Systemic change is inevitable, and both economists and artists are drawing our attention to questions we soon need to answer as societies in order to live sustainably together: How does society become more distributive, and regenerative? What can we do to respect the ecological boundaries? How shall our perception of value be changed, and how new types of entrepreneurship, based on new forms of collaboration, will become possible? How to reshape the way we think about the economy in order to open space for new ideas?

It is against this background that ZKM | Centre for Art and Media Karlsruhe and the Art-driven Responsible Innovation organisation In4Art Rotterdam decided to join forces and set up an experimental residency program in which we invited some forward-thinking artists and distinguished economists to engage in a new collaborative form. The Experiments in Art and Economics residency took place in 2021.

Credits:
Lívia Nolasco-Rózsás (Curator ZKM)
Felix Koberstein: Project Coordination ZKM
Ludger Brümmer: Artistic Advisor
Contributing Artists: RYBN.ORG, Martin Nadal, Cesar Escudero Andaluz
Contributing Economists: Stefano Puntoni, Nancy Bocken