Lars Campert

The resilience of neoliberal urbanism

Working in dialogue with anti-gentrification discourses, Campert’s work offers a critique of the neoliberal subjectivities that govern contemporary life and work.
“I am committed to a micro-level analysis of the ways individual citizens are asked to respond to the challenges of the neoliberal era. The compulsion to sustain economic productivity – no time-wasters allowed! – and a gritty personal resilience in the face of the collapse of the welfare state, are chief among them”, says Campert.

Lars Campert, Withdrawal Statement, 2014

I announce my decision to withdraw from the Bury Biennial 2014.

It is my intention that every cultural project should manifest dissent against the fallacy of the global neoliberal agenda. Sadly, Bury Biennial, in its acceptance of sponsorship funds from BP, has shown that it cannot rise to this challenge. I find the association of the Bury Biennial with a corporation guilty of crimes against humanity morally repugnant. The decision to accept the dead patronage of a hydrocarbon giant is shameful and clearly an instance of art before politics.

I am now beginning work on a new project: a solidarity exhibition of eco-activist photographers from across the US Gulf Coast.

I request that this statement be exhibited in place of the interventions originally intended.

Lars Campert. 13 August 2014.

The resilience of neoliberal urbanism  Mixed media interventions in public space. 2014