The Pleasure of Not Knowing and the Importance of Serendipity in Contemporary Art Practice

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (peer-reviewed)peer-review

Abstract

This chapter seeks to investigate the manner in which visual artists approach the acquisition of knowledge and develop their practice through unanticipated discoveries in the manner of serendipity. To do this I focus on artists that choose to operate outside the conventional studio/gallery environment but favour the public realm. I map the strategies and tactics employed by these artists, charting the development and incorporation of modes of serendipity. These artists see the completion of their work as being dependant on audience-participation and on pure chance, therefore the success of a project is often unknown and unpredictable but is a key to this enquiry. I pay particular attention to the work of Adam Chodzko and Jeremy Millar who openly taunt failure, embracing the unpredictable and the unsought.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Art of Serendipity
EditorsWendy Ross, Samantha Copeland
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Pages239-265
Number of pages27
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-030-84478-3
ISBN (Print) 978-3-030-84477-6
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 10 Feb 2022

Publication series

NamePalgrave Studies in Creativity and Culture
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
ISSN (Print)2755-4503
ISSN (Electronic)2755-4511

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