Hugh Williamson Lecture: Michael Pinsky

Buy less, bin less: the culture of consuming

Things are cheap. Space is expensive. Large private art galleries exhibiting a few select artworks epitomise the contemporary expression of wealth. However, behind this minimalism lies a world of waste.

Michael Pinsky envisions his art as a service rather than a product. His interests lie in the public and public space rather than with the private collector and the private gallery. Wherever possible he seeks to reuse, recycle and adapt to create his installations using local materials, knowledge and labour. Michael Pinsky will present his journey as an artist and activist, suggesting that art can play a critical role in changing people’s lives and challenging the capitalist narrative that unfettered economic growth is the global panacea.