Making matters : a vocabulary for collective arts / editors, Janneke Wesseling, Florian Cramer ; editorial committee Florian Cramer, Anja Groten, Klaas Kuitenbrouwer, Pia Louwerens, Marie-Jo�se Sondeijker, Janneke Wesseling ; contributors Aliens in green, Lilia Mestre ...[et al.].

"Part of the project 'Bridging art, design and technology through Critical Making'...research programme Smart Culture."--Colophon

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The world today faces overwhelming ecological and social problems, and the concern for material existence on earth is more pressing than ever. 'Making Matters' spells out various roles that visual artists and designers play in facing these issues. Collective action is necessary and inevitable. Collective action often changes the artist's identity and working habits: from individuality and autonomy to collectivity and collaboration, both locally and globally. These developments have given rise to new kinds of collective art and design practices: artists work together with non-artists, make products for their local environment and take on multiple identities, such as researcher, community activist, computer hacker or business consultant. This book looks at art practices across all continents that do not conform to a Western concept of art, or to traditional distinctions between art, design, research and activism.