ANGRY

Young and Radical

The project ANGRY: Young and Radical was first initiated by Paradox. Although I am credited as curator and co-producer, the project was a team effort. ANGRY included a public campaign, a website and an educational trajectory for secondary schools and was on show from 22nd January until 13th June 2011 at Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam.

Radicalisation has been a hot topic since 9/11 and radicalism is regarded as negative by definition. But born out of idealism, isn’t it often also a force for social change? Who is radical and who decides? Has there really been an increase in radical behaviour among young people in our current society or is it ‘only’ a matter of distorted representation?

The multimedia project ANGRY: Young and Radical (2011) was presented as an exhibition, website, educational modules and the debate The Day of Anger. The work of 31 international artists is juxtaposed with statements made in the media by governments, politicians, journalists, scientists, and activists over the past 50 years (1960 – 2010). A key part of ANGRY: Young and Radical was formed by ten video portraits of (former) Dutch radicals, differing in age from 19 to 67 – who raise essential questions on their motivations. Workshops with young people resulted in video clips, a photo project, and graffiti. For the website, a game was developed “How radical are you?”, as a tool to trigger discussion amongst students as well as visitors.

ANGRY: Young and Radical shows that radicalism exists in all ages, and all cultures. Looking back on history, one notices that angry, protesting youths are often considered foolish utopians, but that their ideals frequently became the norm later on. This is why ANGRY: Young and Radical is just as much an ode to being able to devote yourself uncompromisingly to a good cause as it is a mirror for those who have lost their youthful idealism. Because isn’t indifference more radical than engagement?

Artists included: Annette Behrens, Nisrine Boukhari, Mohamed Bourouissa, Daya Cahen, Yvon Chabrowski, Ad van Denderen, Rineke Dijkstra, Willie Doherty, Eva Frapiccini, Jasper Groen, Johan Grimonprez, Susan van Hengstum, Runo Lagomarsino & Johan Tirén, Eva Leitolf, Aernout Mik, Mirko Martin, Monica Nouwens, Corinne Englert & Isabel Morgen & Cora Piantoni, Sarah Pickering, Adriaan van der Ploeg, Astrid Proll, Julian Röder, Allan Sekula, Jules Spinatsch, Joel Sternfeld, Ari Versluis & Ellie Uyttenbroek, Yumosh and Tobias Zielony.