Swing That Art Bat was a month-long programme of talks, presentations and workshops instigated by Sheffield-based duo No Fixed Abode, which aimed to generate discussion around the metaphor of a bat as a representation of an artist's cultural "weight" or status. In response to this premise we developed the first event of the series, BEAT ATTACK THWACK, which raised questions of competitiveness masculinity and aggression within the art world, drew parallels between street gangs and artist collectives, and aimed to expand on the Art Bat theory, taking into account the complex and multifaceted system of art world power relations in which the artist is only one of many players.
In the video below, visitors to BEAT ATTACK THWACK! were asked to negotiate their respective positions in the art world: the left of the hierarchical line being the bottom of the art world and the right the top.
Related links:
Visit the Swing That Art Bat blog
Visit No Fixed Abode's website