It strikes me how many young Dutch artists, having graduated at an academy and starting their own practice, present themselves with activities that focus on social targets rather than artistic goals.
It’s no news that since the 18th century a number of famous artists - from Voltaire, Zola and Brecht to Bob Dylan - had a great impact on social movements and politics. But these celebrities never had the intention to be a rebel or the leader of a revolution. Only their drive to create great art was propelled by social motives. Whereas nowadays young people with an artistic ambition seem to feel obliged to figure out concepts for social change in the first place, and consider artistic methods and techniques only as the main vehicle for that ambition. Isn't that a shame?
