We are often criticised: at school, at work, by enemies, friends and family. Though, what differentiates devastating critique from that which brings us further?
Martin Gut dedicated his participatory work to critique. The artists states that the only thing critique must achieve is to channel the potential of the criticised.
In many cases, a critic’s aim is not to bring the people they criticise forward, but to reinforce their own position of power. Destructive criticism often defends the critic’s personal views by presenting them as universal values. This can befoul the person concerned’s initiative and sow the seeds of self-doubt.
I grew up in a society, says Martin Gut, whose critique-mentality is often shit. This is something he would like to change, because to him, wasting one’s own potential is a sin.
The artist opened the “Raum der konstruktiven Kritik” within the framework of the Himmelrich temporary use of the ABL in Lucerne.
Walk in - stand there - and the artist judges what you wish to have assessed: your hairstyle, your art, your behaviour, or something which makes you insecure. This one-of-a-kind service was offered along with a cup of tea or coffee on nine of the exhibition evenings prior to or spontaneously during the installation.
In total, there were thirteen “consultations”, six concerned themselves with art, five with life questions and two with clothing or style questions.
