1. Research Library

        The Potosí Principle : How Can We Sing the Song of the Lord in An Alien Land?

        Alice Creischer, Max Jorge Hinderer, and Andreas Siekmann

        Cologne Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König 2010

        ISBN 978-3865609267

      1. Extensive catalog accompanying the research project and exhibition The Potosí Principle. How Can We Sing the Song of the Lord in An Alien Land?, which was shown at Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid (12.5–6.9.2010), Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin (8.10.2010–2.1.2011), and Museo Nacional de Arte and Museo Nacional de Ethnografía y Folklore, La Paz (22.2.–15.5.2011). The research project was initiated and curated by artists and frequent collaborators Alice Creischer and Andreas Siekmann, with Max Jorge Hinderer and a small group of ‘correspondents’ (such as David Riff). The exhibition traces the global circulation of capital and images by comparing the early 17th century city of Potosí (center of the Spanish colonial empire’s silver production) with the globalization of today. Examples of historical ‘Andean Baroque’ artworks are exhibited alongside contemporary pieces in order to raise questions about the globalization of contemporary art, primitive accumulation then and now, today’s sites of massive economic growth and wealth concentration (such as Moscow, Dubai, or parts of China), and the currency of images. Exhibited artists included: Sonia Abián, Christian von Borries, Matthijs de Bruijne, Chto delat?/What is to be done?, Marcelo Expósito, Harun Farocki, Zhao Liang, David Riff/Dmitry Gutov, Territorio Doméstico, etc. Amongst many texts, images and research documentation, see in particular Alice Creischer ‘Primitive Accumulation, As Exemplified in Potosí’, Anthony David ‘Some Thoughts on Finance and Art’ (reflecting on the 2008 financial crisis and the art market), and David Riff in conversation with Creischer and Siekmann (p. 276).]