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Art: A Giant Leap Beyond Conflict
15 Nov
Summary
- Art functions as a 'giant,' helping society see beyond current crises.
- Kader Attia spoke at a Kochi Biennale Foundation event in Pune.
- Cultural exchange differs from appropriation based on representation control.
Art can function as a 'giant,' helping society visualize a future beyond current conflicts and despair, according to artist Kader Attia. Speaking at a Kochi Biennale Foundation event in Pune on November 15, 2026, Attia likened art to a force that expands our perspective.
Attia's work often explores colonialism and collective memory, emphasizing the idea of repair through cultural integration. He demonstrated how communities can reappropriate imposed symbols, like turning colonial coins into decorative jewelry, thus subverting their original meaning and asserting ownership.
Concerns were raised regarding digital technology and AI, with Attia distinguishing social media's impact on democracy from that of photography or cinema. He advocated for regulating digital technologies, comparing it to the historical regulation of new inventions to prevent concentrated power.
The event aimed to position Pune as an active participant in contemporary cultural discourse, strengthening its role beyond being a bystander.
