DECOLONISING KNOWLEDGE AND AESTHETICS

Matadero Madrid and the Centre for Postcolonial Studies at Goldsmiths University, London, began a collaborative project in 2012, with the aim of encouraging an exchange between a framework based on postcolonial theoretical analysis and current artistic practice.   The objective was to develop an international and trans-disciplinary project in which the University and the contemporary arts centre come together in order to form a research group that was able to analyse the world from a critical perspective and to put this approach into the practice of an artistic routine.   The research group is made up of 22 members, among them are academic researchers, artists, curators, filmmakers, musicians, architects, sociologists…etc. 11 of the 24 participants came into the group through an open call and the rest were nominated by organisations linked to the theme, and to Madrid’s creative community.   Between October 2012 and January 2012 the group attended a program of theoretical meetings that somehow sought to explore the issue of colonialism. In turn, members presented their individual research on this topic and from this came the first proposals for courses of possible action.   The creation of this group was carried out with the intention of offering the cultural fabric of Madrid an opportunity to develop research in areas where theory and practice coexist outside of the usual context of an academic institution, with the headquarters based in an arts centre for cultural production. This group may well carry out public presentations of its findings through conferences, symposiums, meetings, publications and/or exhibitions that will be held here in Matadero Madrid.      Group members: Anak y monoperro, Alberto Nanclares, Aimar Arriola, Juan Guardiola, Inés Plasencia, Daniel Villegas, Santiago Gonzalez Villajos, Silvia Zayas, Marisol Salanova, Julia Morandeira, Cabello/Carceller, Erika Trejo, Susan Campos, Diego del Pozo, Eduardo Galvagni, Leire Vergara, Rossell Meseguer, Sally Gutiérrez, Israel V. Márquez, Natalia Giménez Cid, José Manuel Bueso y Mariana David.