Performance and philosophy of art

How to respond on an artwork as a critic committed to the philosophy of art? Poetic response will not do the job. Neither will imitation, nor pure description. If Art is self sufficient it is in no need for comments. On the other hand, the artwork is our common focus of attention and we are entitled to render it according to our own associations. Then, in the dialogue, it is possible to generate a new perception of the work, as well as appropriate reactions in response to it. The real object of the critic is to open up a conversation focused on the artwork, and to take precautions to keep the focus, or, if the discussion departs from the subject, to point it anew back to the core of the work.

A lot can be gained from comparison. Putting two works aside we can discern interesting differences as well as parallels between them. This will help us at the same time to keep focus on the material available. This approach will also be helpful in order to understand the point of view of the curator who has planned the festival in detail. Now, to start a pursuit of friction, as a response to the curatorial questions seminal to the festival program, we will begin by comparing festival entries to each other.