Living as Form takes a special look into society and its issues, and urges us to view them in a curious, critical way. Gatherings, protest, and social issues all exemplify the human condition- emotions flow freely. People join together to work on a greater cause. Opinions grind against each other like sand and stone. But what is it that we find so powerful about these events? What is it that we find so caustic, yet so humbling?

I’ve only recently been realizing that art has its very roots in social change. This is a paradigm shift for me- while I knew that many artists tend to feel strongly about certain movements, I never fully understood how and why the modern (and, arguably, the timeless) calling of artists was to “make things happen” instead of simply “make things.”

Artistic minds tend to exhibit more empathy and convey more emotion than other types of minds. Additionally, novelty of expression is celebrated in art. These two factors naturally lead to a more social calling for artists. Therefore, celebrating movements, protests, and gatherings as art is a natural occurrence. My favorite discussion was about “micro-utopias,” and about the inversion of public and private space and context. Marina Abramovic’s performance piece,  The Artist is Present, was a great example of this. The idea of it made me feel a strong sense of discomfort yet personal importance. If I were sitting facing her in front of many others, it would be an unforgettable experience.