Art as Compact Knowledge: Art Public Zurich: A Research Project

The publication presents an overview of the research project "Art Public Zurich" and also places it within a theoretical framework. After introducing the mission statement and the Organization Art in Public Space Zurich, developed in cooperation with the City of Zürich, the methodological approach will be described that underlies the project, namely, to determine factors that will open contextual fields of reference for public art, thereby strengthening its social relevance. One section of the contribution leads to the thesis that art in public space – similar to comparable phenomena in the sciences – can trigger a profound reevaluation of the concept of art. The closing section examines artistic research and its significance in our knowledge society.

This booklet is an English-language supplement to the German publication "Kunst und Öffentlichkeit: Kritische Praxis der Kunst im Stadtraum Zürich," edited by Christoph Schenker and Michael Hiltbrunner (Zurich: JRP|Ringier, 2007). It includes the English version of the survey article "Kunst als dichtes Wissen: Das Forschungsprojekt Kunst Öffentlichkeit Zürich" (pp. 29–48) by Christoph Schenker. The booklet also reproduces four artworks that were completed only after the publication of the original German volume - public artworks by Harun Farocki, Zilla Leutenegger, Lawrence Weiner and Sislej Xhafa.