Comments on setting up for the Piratbyrån & Friends exhibition

Marc Garrett

I was at the Furtherfield space yesterday & Met for the first time (in the flesh), Palle Torsson & Geraldine Juárez who are part of the (many) of Piratbyrån (The Bureau of Piracy). They are working with us to set up the Piratbyrån & Friends exhibition, opening on the weekend of 3 May 2014. http://go.shr.lc/1nyJ2Gm

It struck me how fresh and alive they are as human beings, and so full of compassion in their dedication to change culture through their practices, in art, activism & technology. Piratbyrån also consists of many different people from all walks of life, which shows a real sense for emancipation. They seem to be of a younger generation than me – and quite scarily most of them on average about 10-15 years younger.

However, this gives me much hope. They are part of a diverse and younger generation who deeply understand that art is not just about the self, or conforming to the art market and its brands, they disrupt the script and consciously hack around these societal, blockages.

They are passionate, intelligent, alive and free in their hearts and minds. They take risks and live out what they believe, and this, I respect deeply. I am learning a few extra tricks from this infectious bunch. They have reminded me what’s really important in life.

For me, art is like a radical enlightenment – not a religious thing, but a grounded, egalitarian and democratic force as core values, and these connections are strong between radical enlightenment (look up ‘A Revolution of the Mind’ by Jonathan Israel), Hacktivism, Situationism, Media Art practice and networked art, alongside punk and DIY culture. This is my home, and where my best friends live, whether it be through the networks we all use, or in their writings and thoughts, or through their critically aware and engaged, artistic practice, at various levels – it is not fixed.

Published by Marc Garrett

Marc Garrett is co-director and co-founder, with artist Ruth Catlow of the arts collective Furtherfield, beginning on the Internet in 96. Furtherfield has two physical venues, a gallery and a Commons lab, both situated in the park, in Finsbury Park, London. Has curated over 50 contemporary Media Arts exhibitions, projects nationally and internationally. Main editor of the Furtherfield web site. Written for various books and articles about art, technology and social change. Two key Furtherfield publications include co-editing of 'Artists Re:Thinking Games' with Ruth Catlow and Corrado Morgana 2010, and recently on 'Artists Re:thinking the Blockchain' with Ruth Catlow, Nathan Jones and Sam Skinner 2017. Currently in the write up of last year of Phd at the University of London, Birkbeck College. Emerging in the late 80′s from the streets exploring creativity via agit-art tactics. Using unofficial, experimental platforms such as the streets, pirate radio such as the locally popular ‘Savage Yet Tender’ alternative broadcasting 1980′s group, net broadcasts, BBS systems, performance, intervention, events, pamphlets, warehouses and gallery spaces. In the early nineties, was co-sysop (systems operator) with Heath Bunting on Cybercafe BBS with Irational.org. Furtherfield’s mission is to co-create extraordinary art that connects with contemporary audiences providing innovative, engaging and inclusive digital and physical spaces for appreciating and participating in practices in art, technology and social change. As well as finding alternative ways around already dominating hegemonies, thus claiming for ourselves and our peer networks a culturally aware and critical dialogue beyond traditional hierarchical behaviours. Influenced by situationist theory, fluxus, free and open source culture, and processes of self-education and peer learning, in an art, activist and community context.