What's the Use? Constellations on Art, History, and

Is art only art insofar as it refuses to be useful? Or can art practices serve a wider purpose in the world? This reader starts from the premise that art is an integral part of the social, economic and political process. Art is best understood through its dialogue with the social sphere, rather than as a ‘thing in itself’. By mapping a diverse terrain of examples and ideas, this book explores the complex interplay between art, use, history, and knowledge. Thecontributing writers and artists — such as Georges Didi-Huberman, Tania Bruguera, Wendelien van Oldenborgh and Stephen Wright — demonstrate how in past and contemporary practice these relationships are set up and played out.

Editors: Nick Aikens, Thomas Lange, Jorinde Seijdel, Steven ten Thije

Contributors: Nick Aikens, Christina Aushana, Zdenka Badovinac, Manuel Borja-Villel Tania Bruguera, John Byrne, Jesús Carrillo, Christina Clausen, constructLab, Tamara Díaz Bringas, Georges Didi-Huberman, Charles Esche, Annie Fletcher, Lara Garcia Diaz, Liam Gillick, Melinda Guillen, Jeanne van Heeswijk, Alistair Hudson, Thomas Lange, Li Mu, Wendelien van Oldenborgh, Trevor Paglen, Manuel Pelmuş, Emily Pethick, Alexandra Pirici, Laurie Jo Reynolds, Adrian Rifkin, John Ruskin, Lucía Sanromán, Catarina Simão, Sara Stehr, Subtramas, Steven ten Thije, WHW (What, How & for Whom), Stephen Wright, George Yúdice

Editors: Nick Aikens, Thomas Lange, Jorinde Seijdel, Steven ten Thije

Design: George&Harrison
2016, Valiz with the Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven and Stiftung Universität Hildesheim | supported by L’Internationale, Mondriaan Fund, European Union, Culture Programme | paperback | 504 pp. | 24 x 17 cm (h x w) | English | ISBN 978-94-92095-12-1