Making Matters: A Vocabulary for Collective Arts

A glossary of keywords and concepts for enhancing collaboration in art and design

Collective action often changes the artist’s identity and working habits: from individuality and autonomy to collectivity and collaboration, both locally and globally. This has given rise to new kinds of collective art and design practices: artists work together with nonartists, make products for their local environment and take on multiple identities, such as researcher, community activist, computer hacker or business consultant. Making Matters looks at art practices across all continents that conform neither to a Western concept of art nor to traditional distinctions between art, design, research and activism–where the boundaries between art, design, research and activism become blurred or are dissolved. Contributors include: Lilia Mestre, Elaine W. Ho, Lili Carr, Thalia Hoffman, Ismal Muntaha, Eleni Kamma, Frans-Willem Korsten, Dani Ploeger, Kate Rich, Femke Snelting, Olu Taiwo, Baruch Gottlieb, Akiem Helmling, Janneke Wesseling, Florian Cramer, Anja Groten, Klaas Kuitenbrouwer, Pia Louwerens, Marie-Jose Sondeijker, Feral Atlas, Jatiwangi art Factory and Display Distribute.