Counter-Non-Anti-Remembrance. The Anti-monumental Practices by TIST Collective

Abstract

In the recent decades, monumentality has been significantly reconsidered with its symbolic materiality and agency in public spaces. Counter-, non-, and anti-monumental practices have emerged on the scene of contemporary art as a new, critical mode of commemorative and social ritual. While addressing the well-known query on whether monumentality can still be considered a valid tool able to synthesize and keep the collective memory, the current paper investigates the remembrance practices by TIST collective (Italy). In the last two years TIST implemented a series of artistic actions in the urban space designed to address the emergence and endurance of a commemorative community and the possibility of remembrance as a public ritual.

Keywords

• monumentality
• remembrance
• public space
• collectivity
• urban rituals