THE INDEPENDENT. Institute for Provocation

a project by Hou Hanru
curated by Elena Motisi
Carlo Scarpa Foyer – Spazio MINI

Theoretical studies and artistic practice for interdisciplinary knowledge

Founded in Beijing in 2010, the group Institute for Provocation (IFP) is an artistic organization and a working space that promotes cultural exchanges and production of a collective nature. IFP organizes and supports activities of various kinds, including artist residencies, research projects, debates, exhibitions, workshops, publications and so on, in the belief that artistic processes must be understood as alternative forms of the production of knowledge.

On the occasion of The Independent, Institute for Provocation is presenting the project Space Odyssey: an installation on wallpaper reproducing the physical environment of the IFP studio and the strata that make up its history and the micro-social dimension.
The studio, situated in a building dating from the Qing dynasty, represents a physical setting for the group, housing forms of co-working, meetings and public events. In the “studio” at MAXXI, IFP is presenting a selection of works by artists, architects and researchers associated with its output which the public is invited to explore.

“To be independent is not a goal, nor is it a means to achieve our goals, but a fleeting status with which we can identify. However, we are not independent from governments and policy, as they form the basis of our (fragile) economic framework.” (IFP)

ph. Martijn Tellinga with 10 performers. IFP courtyard 2016