‘Autogestión’ reflects on do-it-yourself practices in contemporary art

The Joan Miró Foundation brings you Autogestión, an exhibition which gives a historical overview of various works of art related to do-it-yourself (DIY) practices, which began to be used in art in the 60s. The exhibition, curated by the artist Antonio Ortega, reflects on the evolution of this practice in contemporary art with over 60 pieces by artists including Esther Ferrer, Joan Hernández Pijuan, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Sílvia Gubern, Cesare Pietroiusti, Henks Peeter and François Curlet.

The Joan Miró Foundation brings you Autogestión, an exhibition which gives a historical overview of various works of art related to do-it-yourself (DIY) practices, which began to be used in art in the 60s. The exhibition, curated by the artist Antonio Ortega, reflects on the evolution of this practice in contemporary art with over 60 pieces by artists including Esther Ferrer, Joan Hernández Pijuan, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Sílvia Gubern, Cesare Pietroiusti, Henks Peeter and François Curlet.

This exhibition is also an attempt to understand recent art and verify the current importance of DIY. Many recent works of art have adapted to the use of DIY in order to maintain the cultural aspects of their artistic activity whilst assuming a high level of risk and dedicating a lot of time to these projects. DIY is also linked to an ideological spirit characterised by inclusivity, modesty in the work and the artists’ determination not to let the explanation of their work be affected by external interpretations and to claim the management of that which is likely their only capital: their desire to take charge of their work.

4 spaces in which to reflect on contemporary art

– In the first space you will find more didactic examples of approaches to DIY. This exhibition hall includes a series of projects related to space, in many cases through action: reproducing the codes and consensus that lay the foundations for museums.

Cesare Pietroiusti
One hundred things that are
certainly not art [Cien cosas
que no son arte en absoluto],
2001-2017Instalación específica-In the second room, you will be able to explore examples of spontaneous acts of empowerment and response to the artistic system.

Joan Miró
Tela cremada 1 [Tela quemada, 1],
1973
Acrílico sobre tela cortada
y quemada
130 x 195 cm
Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona

– The third space includes works of art that address the concept of DIY in art from the perspective of inclusivity.

Adam Nankervis. Diferentes objetos del Museum MAN, 2017

– Lastly, the fourth space takes on the way in which many artists have internalised do-it-yourself concepts.

Yoko Ono
Painting to See the Skies [Pintura para ver
el cielo], 1961-2017
Tela de lino imprimada y rasgada sobre
bastidores de madera, con dos agujeros
hechos en la tela según indicaciones de la
artista
200 x 100 cm
Colección de la artista