European Capital of Culture 2005 / Cork Caucus

Cork Caucus
The Cork Caucus project was initiated and managed by the National Sculpture Factory (NSF), together with invited curator, Charles Esche. It was a nine month project (culminating in a six-week intensive phase), based in Cork City, which brought together artists and thinkers at the highest level, as inspiration for the future, but also as physically present interlocutors within the local art scene for a fixed intensive period.

Caucus also invited emerging artists from Europe and beyond, to live and work in Cork for a short period of time, taking part in the Caucus programme and activities in the city, as a way to extend international links from this city on the western edge of the continent.

The principle understanding behind Caucus was that art proceeds from a discursive and critical culture. In Cork that culture is in a critical phase, its traditional terms being interrogated by the city's position within the shifting global order. Caucus sought to bring to this site of questioning a high level of international information and exchange.

The key precedent for Caucus was Joseph Beuys' bid to establish the Free International University in Ireland in the 1970's. An application was made to the then EEC in 1975 by Caroline Tisdall, with the objective to explore 'the contribution cultural and intellectual life can make to society'. Whilst never achieved and problematic in some of its ambitions, the FIU serves as a forerunner and critical point of departure for Caucus. Beuys' view of the potential of Ireland was, while romanticised, an indicator of what could be made possible with suitable vision and ambition. Caucus aimed to forge a moment where local and international came together to exchange experiences and make plans for the future.

Project concept: The National Sculpture Factory & Charles Esche.

Caucus curatorial team:

• Charles Esche
• Annie Fletcher
• Art / not art

Participating artists and thinkers included:

• Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak (Philosopher)
• Giorgio Agamben (Philosopher)
• Vito Acconci (Artist)
• Sarat Maharaj (Writer and theorist)
• Maria Eichhorn (Artist)
• Marius Babias (Writer and activist)
• Surasi Kusolwong (Artist)
• Shep Steiner (Writer and theorist)
• Catherine David (Curator)
• Phil Collins (Artist)
• Bik Van der Pol (Artists)
• Sarah Pierce (Artist)
• Paul O'Neill (Artist and Curator)
• Static (Arts organisation)
• Jeremiah Day (Artist)
• finger (Art collective)
• Peio Aguirre D.A.E (Artist)
• Leire Vergara D.A.E. (Artist)
• Factotum (Art collective)
• Agung Kurniawan (Artist)
• Can Altay (Artist)
• Eoghan McTigue (Artist)
• Ibon Arranberri (Artist)
• Haegue Yang (Artist)
• Keri Jones
• Invisible Academy
• Necronautical Society
• Kunci
• WHW
• Shane Cullen

corkcaucus.org



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