The Politics of Collecting: Race and the Aestheticization of Property

Eunsong Kim's The Politics of Collecting explores how racial capitalism and colonialism shaped US museum collections and conceptual art forms, revealing the role of expropriation in popular ideas of formal innovation and artistic genius. She uncovers the racialized and financialized logic behind the Archive of New Poetrys collecting practices and challenges received notions of artistic success and talent.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 02 August 2024
Publisher: Duke University Press

The Politics of Collecting: Eunsong Kim's Exploration of Racial Capitalism and Colonialism in US Museum Collections and Conceptual Art Forms
Eunsong Kim's book, "The Politics of Collecting," delves into the historical and legal foundations of US museum collections and conceptual art forms, revealing the complex interplay of racial capitalism and colonialism in their development. Through a meticulous examination of historical legal and property claims, Kim argues that regimes of expropriation, rather than merit or good taste, have shaped popular notions of formal innovation and artistic genius.

One of the key themes of Kim's book is the canonization of Marcel Duchamp, a pivotal figure in the history of conceptual art. Kim challenges the conventional narrative that Duchamp's work was solely driven by his artistic brilliance, highlighting the significant role played by his patrons' donations to museums. She reveals how Duchamp's work was often acquired through patronage rather than through the quality of his work itself, and how this has contributed to his enduring status as a cultural icon.

Kim also explores the Archive of New Poetry's collecting practices, which have been criticized for their racialized and financialized logic. She argues that the Archive's emphasis on collecting works by marginalized poets and artists was driven by a desire to promote diversity and inclusivity, but that this approach has often resulted in the exploitation of these artists and their work.

Kim's book offers a fresh perspective on contemporary art, challenging received notions of artistic success and talent. She draws on history, theory, and economics to provide a comprehensive analysis of the complex entanglement of race, capital, and labor behind storied art institutions and artists.

One of the most significant contributions of Kim's book is its emphasis on the historical and political context of art collecting. She argues that art collecting has always been shaped by power dynamics and that the rise of US museum collections and conceptual art forms was closely tied to the development of racial capitalism and colonialism. She highlights the ways in which museums and art institutions have been used to perpetuate systems of oppression and inequality, and how artists and collectors have been complicit in these practices.

Kim's book also offers a critique of the cultural institution as a whole. She argues that the cultural institution is often driven by economic interests and that it can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and biases. She calls for a new vision of art that is more inclusive and accessible, and that recognizes the contributions of marginalized communities and artists.

In conclusion, Eunsong Kim's book, "The Politics of Collecting," is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the complex relationship between racial capitalism and colonialism and the development of US museum collections and conceptual art forms. Through a meticulous examination of historical legal and property claims, Kim challenges the conventional narrative of artistic success and talent and offers a new vision of art that is more inclusive and accessible. Her book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of art and the role of the cultural institution in shaping our understanding of art and culture.

Weight: 482g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478030485