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Michael Robert "Mike" Watson (born 1979)[citation needed] is a British-born art critic, media and cultural theorist, and curator, as of 2024 based in Finland.
Michael Robert Watson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1979 (age 44–45) |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Goldsmiths, University of London |
| Occupation(s) | Art critic, cultural theorist |
Education
editIn 2012, Watson completed his PhD thesis at Goldsmiths College, University of London, in the department of Visual Cultures, under the supervision of Alex Duttmann, moderated by Howard Caygill and Peter Hallward. His thesis examined the relationship between Theodor Adorno's Shudder and Conceptual Art.[citation needed]
Career
editIn 2012, Watson founded Joan of Art: Towards a Free Education,[1] in collaboration with Nomas Foundation of Rome, which envisaged a free education system set up within a network of art spaces. Additionally, he has curated numerous international projects and exhibitions including at the MACRO Museum and Fondazione Pastificio Cerere, Rome; the Venice Biennale in 2013 and 2015 and Manifesta12 in 2018.
As a writer, Watson has contributed to Frieze,[2][3] Art Review,[4][5][6] Nero[7] and Radical Philosophy,[8] on topics such as art, social activism and education.
Watson has curated performance events and exhibitions with political artists such as Oliver Ressler, Marinella Senatore, and the Russian collective Chto Delat, as well as performing as a VJ in collaboration with audio and visual artist Simone Bertugno, in venues including the Parco Auditorium della Musica and Galleria Nazionale dell'Arte Moderna, Rome.[9] He also conceived the artistic performance work Machines of Loving Grace in collaboration with artist Harold de Bree at the opening of the 55th Biennale di Venezia.[10]
He has published several books with ZerO Books: Towards a Conceptual Militancy (2016), Can the Left Learn to Meme: Adorno, Video Games and Stranger Things (2019) and The Memeing of Mark Fisher: How the Frankfurt School Foresaw Capitalist Realism and What To Do About It (2021). As of November 2024, his most-recent book is Hungry Ghosts in the Machine: Digital Capitalism and the Search for Self.[11]
In 2024 he founded Revol Press with author and migration lawyer Dan Melo.[12]
He has taught as a visitor in Communications, Art Theory, and Writing at The New Centre for Research and Practice,[13] The Royal College of Art, London, Estonia Academy of Arts, Tallinn, IULM, Milan, Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst Basel FHNW, Switzerland. As of 2024, he teaches in Oulu, Finland.[14]
References
edit- ^ "Joan of Art". www.joanofart.net.
- ^ "Postcard from Rome | Blog | Frieze Publishing". blog.frieze.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- ^ "Postcard from Rome: Teatro Valle | Blog | Frieze Publishing". blog.frieze.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- ^ "Art Review, Now Hear This, Mike Watson, Rome, What is art for? / Art Review". artreview.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- ^ "Why art and politics? by Mike Watson / Art Review". artreview.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- ^ "Machines of Loving Grace at Venice Biennale / Art Review". artreview.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- ^ "NERO MAGAZINE » Interview with Mike Watson – The Gallery Apart". www.neromagazine.it. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- ^ "Whose future?". Radical Philosophy. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- ^ "New Project by Professor Mike Watson: The Revolution Will be Live-Streamed". 14 March 2018.
- ^ "Machines of Loving Grace".
- ^ Mike Watson (4 November 2024). "I moved to Finland believing it was a progressive dream. It hasn't turned out that way". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ https://www.revolpress.com
- ^ "Mike Watson".
- ^ Luukinen, Maippi (22 October 2020). "Oululaistunut britti Mike Watson aikoo tutkia, millainen rooli taiteella voi olla kuntavaalityössä" [Oulu-based Briton Mike Watson plans to examine what kind of role art can play in municipal election work] (in Finnish). Kansan Uutiset.