Niet Normaal · Difference on Display

NAi Publishers ‹ www.naipublishers.nl ›

Editors: Ine Gevers, Miriam van Rijsingen, Maaike Bleeker
Authors: José van Dijck, Karin Spaink, Jürgen Link, Celia Lury, Nancy Fraser, Bojana Kunst, Peter Sloterdijk, Ingunn Moser, Tom Shakespeare et al.

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· paperback
· Illustrated (colour)
· c. 300 pages
· Size: 17 x 24 cm
· Text in English
· ISBN 90-5662-xxx-x
· RRP € 45.00
· Mai 2009

Niet Normaal · Difference on Display reveals how normal it is to be different. In order to assess others we often adopt a non-reflexive point of reference: the norm. What this norm is, how it works and the function(s) it serves are this publication’s central themes. The authors call into question how norms and difference function in contemporary society. The construct of normality is examined in the context of today’s perfectibility, consumer culture and the interdependency of humans and intelligent technology. Difference on Display offers an alternative to this normative way of seeing things: its purpose is to make the advantages of differences visible.

Running from Fall 2009 at the Beurs van Berlage (Berlage’s Stock Exchange) in Amsterdam, the ambitious, international exhibition Niet Normaal · Difference on Display is directed at a broad audience and brings together art, science and lived reality. By recognizing and critically reflecting on the concept of normality, the exhibition creates leeway for divergence from prevailing notions of health, able-bodiedness and behavioural norms. The aim is to establish an alternative aesthetic prism through which diversity can be valued and appreciated. The concept departs from a paradox that has become increasingly evident of late. Crossovers and dynamic partnerships between empowerment movements and intelligent machines offer promising possibilities in terms of diversity and difference. However, commerce and global economics tend to exploit new developments in biotechnology, robotics and virtual technologies in favour of normality and homogeneity. Governments and companies, as well as citizens themselves, could soon be discriminating on the basis of health and genetic constitution, and not merely on the usual grounds such as gender, race and culture. The problems we may face in such a genocracy could well overshadow those of globalisation and multiculturalism.

With work by artists such as Dan Asher, Yael Bartana, Critical Art Ensemble, Dinos & Jake Champman, Ines Doujak, Joseph Grigely, Bruce Nauman, Erik van Lieshout, Aernout Mik, Julika Rudelius, Marc Quinn, Nedko Solakov, Imogen Stidworthy, Adam Zaretsky and many others.

The accompanying publication examines the philosophy of emancipation that inspired the exhibition in greater depth. The publication is an introduction to ‘disability studies’, a cultural critique that does not proceed from the person-specific ‘difference’ alone, but also from the viewpoint that concepts of norm and difference are socially constructed and thus instrumental in the ‘making’ and ‘unmaking’ of differences. The various themes in the exhibition (Perfectibility, Consumer Culture and our complex relationship with Intelligent Technology are introduced by essays. All the works of art are illustrated and accompanied by a short text.



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