"Monumental Cares and Sites of Activism"

This presentation examines case studies from Mechtild Widrich's book, "Monumental Cares," which explores the monument debates of the past decade in the context of monumental phenomena like climate change, migration, and political tensions. Widrich argues that understanding how specific dates or events can represent these overwhelming processes requires a foundational approach, focusing on sites, artifacts, and their diverse audiences. This site-directed analysis highlights the importance of history in shaping a functioning, democratic public sphere.
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Mechtild Widrich is Professor and Department Chair in Art History, Theory, and Criticism at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her most recent book "Monumental Cares: Sites of History and Contemporary Arts" (2023) was a finalist for this year's ASAP book award for most impactful book of the year in the art of the present.