Whatever it Takes
A three-day artistic barter market to investigate the concept of community
The upcoming event at A plus A gallery, in Venice, was conceived before the lockdown but stems from a conviction become even more evident during the pandemic: that the true essence of contemporary economies derives from concrete needs and the real value lies in the relationships between people. “Whatever it takes” consists of a three-day barter market, during which any form of currency is banned, in favour of objects, time and skills. The participating artists prepared the most curious requests, such as finding old toys and family albums or collecting a series of funny jokes. The initiative aims to compare individualism with the concepts of “community” and “language”.
Led by the curators of the School for Curatorial Studies Venice, the event draws inspiration from the theories of economists Carl Menger, Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich August von Hayek, John Maynard Keynes, Wray Randall, Warren Mosler, Alex Kampa, and anthropologist Marcel Mauss’ theory of gift, considered a mean to build networks of relationships.
The market will take place from September 25–27 at Galleria A plus A, Venice.