TRICKSTER STRATEGIES IN ART

Discover the fascinating world of trickster strategies in art, presented in a collection of 34 studies prepared in collaboration between the Institute of Art History of the University of Wrocław and the Polish Institute of World Art Studies. This unique publication analyzes the role of the trickster figure in art and curatorship, examining how this figure influences artistic and social narratives.

• Analysis of trickster strategies in the context of art.
• Collaboration between renowned scientific institutions.
• Investigation of the role of the trickster in post-communist and post-colonial countries.
• Reflections on the self-awareness of art historians.
• Discovery of new narratives in the interpretation of works of art.
• Unique perspective on the role of gender in the context of trickster activities.

This book does not aim to reconstruct the full discourse of the trickster, from archetypal cultural figures such as the Egyptian Seth or the Greek Hermes to interpretations of 20th-century scholars such as Claude Levi-Strauss or Sigmund Freud. Its goal is to examine how the situation of continuous and profound historical changes has affected both art and artistic narratives. The publication analyzes why the trickster embodies not only an artist and curator but also a narrator of stories. This book also presents a meta-theory aimed at reflecting on the history of art and the self-awareness of art historians: how to tell images we know in a different way and how new narratives allow us to notice something we have previously ignored. The trickster does not offer us a universal cure for academicism but effectively unmasks hypocrisy. Without solving any problems, tricksters fuel the fire by participating in various contemporary debates. The trickster, as an ambivalent figure, not placing himself outside the analyzed system, makes us aware of its functioning, the spread of prejudices, and value systems.

This publication is the result of collaboration between the Institute of Art History of the University of Wrocław and the Polish Institute of World Art Studies, which guarantees a high level of content and an interdisciplinary approach to the topic. The authors analyze the role of the trickster in various contexts, from political to cultural, offering the reader a wide range of interpretations and opportunities to understand this complex phenomenon. This book is aimed at students, researchers, curators, and anyone interested in art and its impact on society.

The book consists of 34 studies prepared by a team of experts from various fields. Each chapter is dedicated to a different aspect of the trickster strategy in art, allowing for a deep understanding of this phenomenon. The authors analyze both historical examples of trickster activities and contemporary manifestations of this strategy. This book is a valuable source of knowledge for anyone who wants to better understand the role of art in society and its impact on our perception of the world.