Journal

Concept Store

Concept Store is a journal published twice-yearly by Arnolfini, focusing on critical issues of contemporary art and their relationship to wider cultural, social and political contexts. While Concept Store reflects upon ideas explored within Arnolfini's artistic programme as well as future research projects, it is intended to be a critical platform in its own right, operating as a discursive space for commissioned texts, artists' contributions, interviews and other experimental forms. It aims to challenge the conventions of the exhibition catalogue and the inter-relations of artistic production, critical writing and cultural theory. The journal also continues Arnolfini's engagement with contemporary design practice, with each issue guest-designed by a different practitioner.

Issue 3, Art, Activism and Recuperation is out now and available along with issues 1 & 2 from Arnolfini bookshop, price £7.95 

Editors: Geoff Cox, Nav Haq and Tom Trevor

Advisory Group: Shumon Basar, Binna Choi, Neil Cummings, Maria Lind, Carol Yinghua Lu

Concept Store in distributed by Cornerhouse.

Stockists include: Arnolfini, Artwords, Walther Koenig Books, ICA Bookshop, Design Museum, Tate Modern, Pro QM, Berlin, Architectural Association Bookshop

Current Issue

#3 Art, Activism and Recuperation

Contributors: Glenn Adamson, Tatiana Bazzichelli, Franco Berardi (Bifo), Thomas Hirschhorn, Brian Holmes, Ele Carpenter, Freee, Esther Leslie, Geoff Cox, Pirat Byran, James Panton, Institute for the Art & Practice of Dissent at Home, Platform, Lars Bang Larsen, Sarat Maharaj, Nav Haq, Stevphen Shukaitis & Erica Biddle, Tom Trevor, Mark Wallinger. Designed by Message & Meaning

Concept Store #3 aims to critically explore some of the paradoxes of the art world's interest in working with activists and other politically engaged practitioners. As well as reflecting on the artist/activist season at Arnolfini, it will look to examine the wider contemporary relationship between art and politics. Some of the critical questions include: what are the power relations between art, activists and cultural institutions? Who ultimately benefits from these relationships? What critical role can art and/or activism really have in a situation where any form of critique is automatically recuperated and neutralised by the mainstream? Under such conditions, what are effective strategies of opposition? And above all - What is to be done (with art)?

ISBN 9780 907738 97 8

Back Issues

 #2 Possible, Probable and Preferable Futures

Contributors: Heiremans & Vermeir, Francesc Ruiz, Graham Gussin, Heman Chong, Tommy Støckel, Marjolijn Dijkman, Neil Cummings & Marysia Lewandowska, Dieter Roelstraate, Max Gane, Bifo (Franco Beradi), Richard Grussin, Will Holder, Mark von Schlegell, Laura Oldfield Ford, Liu Ding, Geoff Cox, Nav Haq, Tom Trevor, Metahaven, Kianoosh Vahabi, Cher Potter. Designed by Europa

This issue of Concept Store looks at contemporary representations of the future, and how these representations, whether socially, economically or even ecologically focused are harnessed politically. This issue also examines the future as a thematic in contemporary art today, in contrast to the ‘historiographic turn' prevalent in art over the last decade. #2 also looks at issues of regeneration and gentrification, and how the architectural imaginary can become a rhetorical tool for altering perceptions of the contemporary city.

ISBN 9780907738961

#1 Art, Consumerism and the Experience Economy

Contributors: Åbäke, Brian Aldiss, Cao Fei/China Tracy, Geoff Cox, Daniel Eatock, Nav Haq, Mia Jankowicz, Carol Yinghua Lu, Alex Rich, Tom Trevor, Unmask Group. Designed by James Langdon

'Our store was built as a theatre where our consumers are the audience participating in the production.' - quote from press release for the opening of the first Niketown in Chicago.

The first issue of Concept Store is based around the issue of 'Experience Economy' as outlined by marketing gurus B. Joseph Pine II & James H. Gilmore in their seminal book The Experience Economy: Work is Theatre & Everyday Business is a Stage. Pine and Gilmore believe that it's no longer sufficient to simply talk about products and services, because the commodity status of objects limits their aesthetic and economic potential. From now on it is all about experience. The experience is the marketing, and services and products are simply tangible artifacts of this experience. Concept Store #1 series will explore how this most contemporary model for successful commercial enterprises has changed things radically, not just for transnational businesses, but also for art institutions.

ISBN 9780 907738947