The Most Radical Exposure. Displaying Photography in Public Space

Abstract

Due to its intrinsically objectual nature and its extra-artistic, capitalistic, and coercive public uses, photography holds a highly problematic position in contemporary art practices in urban space. Nevertheless, the growing number of outdoor photographic exhibitions calls for a reconsideration of its critical paradigms. This paper, therefore, presents the main issues related to photographic displays in shared urban space, discussing two case studies – i.e., Steve McQueen’s Year 3 project (London, 2019) and JR’s La Ferita – The Wound (Florence, 2021) – through the socially engaged art lenses of participation, duration, and the artists’ role towards the communities.