The Serpentine Gallery’s eighth annual Festival of Ideas will take a bold thematic detour this year when it hosts the 89plus Marathon on 18 and 19 October. The art world’s undisputed champion of show and tell events has enthralled, puzzled and inspired audiences with its marathon discussion events that are dedicated each year to subjects as diverse as gardens and manifestos – not forgetting the inaugural Interview Marathon in 2006.
This year, instead of dissecting one core topic, the subject will be that of the artist – or more specifically, artists born in or after 1989. Emerging and eminent speakers from the worlds of art, science and technology will come together to publicly share ideas through talks, performances and discussions.
The impetus for 89plus is the recent influx of post-internet theories surrounding the special nature of this younger generation who have grown up in a networked society. Participants range from programmer and internet millionaire Nick D’Aloisio to former Anonymous member Jake Davis.
Building on the concept of this generation’s networked upbringing, the Serpentine Galleries are providing an online forum – the 89plus Clubhouse – that will allow participants to join in from anywhere in the world.
The Marathon is part of the longer-term 89plus research project that seeks to internationally map artists from this generation. Serpentine Curator Hans Ulrich Obrist has co-founded 89plus with the French independent curator Simon Castets. Also a child of the ‘80s, New York-based Castets has previously curated at The Palais de Tokyo, Yvon Lambert, Paris and Taka Ishii Gallery, Kyoto.
89plus launched in January 2013 and research has so far been conducted in Australia, Hong Kong, New York and Italy. For the initial London-leg of this long-term project, a call out for artists born in or after 1989 was issued. These young artists will present their ideas alongside established practitioners such as filmmaker and artist Hito Steyerl, who is among the more than 60 confirmed participants.
The Serpentine Gallery 89plus Marathon takes place at the Serpentine Sackler Gallery on Friday 18 October (7pm–10pm) and Saturday 19 October (11am–10pm). More information here.
Win a free pair of tickets to the 89plus Marathon
a-n has a pair of tickets to attend the marathon available for one a-n member and their guest. If you’d like a chance to win, please email [email protected] by 5pm Tuesday 15 October with your full name and telephone number. Only current a-n members will be considered.
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