We Must Protect Spaces Where Art Meets Its Audience

Eight art institutions are defending a campaign that celebrates ambiguity and the incomprehensible in contemporary art. The campaign, titled "Asbra, fattar noll" (Great, I get nothing), aims to demystify art for those who feel excluded or confused by it.

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It is not arrogance towards the audience to not regard uncertainty as something negative. It is a tribute to human capacity to meet the ambiguous that often resides in art.

In a response to a critical article, the institutions argue that engaging with the unclear is not a failure but a fundamental part of thinking, experiencing, and living. They believe that embracing uncertainty fosters imagination, tolerance for ambiguity, and the capacity for new ideas, which are essential for a nation's development. The campaign encourages curiosity and a willingness to encounter art without immediate understanding.

While agreeing with the broader goals of challenging narrow perspectives, the institutions highlight a crucial element often overlooked: the need for physical spaces where art can be presented and experienced. They assert that these venues require public funding, similar to other public services. As cultural budgets shrink and reliance on non-public funding grows, art institutions face increasing pressure to justify art's intrinsic value and independence while simultaneously demonstrating its societal benefits.

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The incomprehensible trains our imagination, our tolerance for uncertainty, and our ability to think anew. It is a prerequisite for a country's development.

The institutions emphasize that the incomprehensible is not an end in itself, but the ability to remain with what is not yet understood is worth defending. However, they conclude that to enable more people to engage in this process, it is essential to protect the places where art can exist, be shown, and connect with its audience.

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But one thing is forgotten: art needs a forum, a place where it can exist, be shown, and be experienced. We are convinced that this forum must be publicly financed, just like other parts of our common welfare.