The Shop: Books, Art and Pretty Things
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People have always consumed substances for purposes other than nutrition—as a cure, for intoxication, to expand the consciousness, in religious rituals, for self-optimization, in protest, or out of boredom. The changing categorization of a substance—be it as a pharmaceutical, drug, hormone, or doping agent—suggests that this differentiation has little to do with the effects or dangers of a substance. Rather, hidden behind individual stances on substances, you find an entire social history shaped by issues of race, gender, class, and economic interests. This international group show presented twelve artistic positions that approach the topic via photography, video, sculpture, installation, and performance. The exhibition critically questions the societal view and handling of substances, and sheds light on global consequences as well as future potentials.
The text contributions from the interdisciplinary conference examine the topic from the viewpoint of, among others, criminology, psychology, art history, philosophy, neuroscience, and sexology. They enquire about the effects and potentials of various substances, their societal context as well as the associated individual and collective responsibility. The latest (natural) scientific knowledge gets linked to central ethical questions.