do it. 

This project draws inspiration from Hans Ulrich Obrist's "Do It: The Compendium" project, which revolutionized the concept of art exhibitions by offering flexibility and open-endedness. In the spirit of this approach, we invited a group of middle school students in Shanghai to create their own prompts, encouraging them to have fun, think outside the box, and unleash their creativity. The goal was to showcase the limitless possibilities of prompts and their interpretations, fostering exploration of artistic possibilities and celebrating the uniqueness of each individual.

 

This collection showcases the results of a workshop held in November 2018, where students authored their own prompts inspired by Obrist's ongoing "do it" exhibition. The book captures a diverse range of pieces created by the students, reflecting their engagement with controversial, confusing, and sometimes shocking instructions designed to provoke creative thinking. By frustrating participants and challenging their perceptions, the artists aimed to engage them on multiple levels and stimulate innovative thoughts. Through this project, we aim to highlight the power of art as a social practice and inspire others to embrace nonconformity and personal expression.

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Created as a group project with fellow NYU Shanghai students Millicent Wong and Ai Jian.

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Skills used: Social art practice

Course: Visual Culture & Social Art Practice

Production length: 1 month of preparation, 1 afternoon with the students

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