Simon Cooper – Arena

The image of Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei lying prostrate on a stony beach in Greece, recreating the now iconic photo of drowned Syrian infant Alan Kurdi, has predictably gone viral and generated fierce argument about the role of art and politics. The problem with an image of this sort is that its meaning is endlessly debatable.

"Inhaling the consequences of market emancipation in the La Trobe Valley

Hazelwood is Burning, by Simon Cooper

Arena Magazine 129

Simon Cooper

Apr 2014

Inhaling the consequences of market emancipation in the La Trobe Valley

"Whenever anyone declares that what they are doing is neutral or free of ideology we…

Enlightened Barbarism: On Zero Dark Thirty and the Torture Debate

Arena Magazine 122

Feb 2013

Whenever anyone declares that what they are doing is neutral or free of ideology we ought to be suspicious. This is even more so in relation to contemporary terrorism. How would it be possible to take a neutral stance on post 9/11 events and even have anything to say? And yet this is precisely what […]

"How might artists respond to the social transformations occurring today? Can artists take on a…

Arena Forum: Questioning Art and Politics

Arena Magazine 112

Jun 2011

How might artists respond to the social transformations occurring today? Can artists take on a political agenda without compromising their creativity?

"The Arena publications respond to the current crisis. By Geoff Sharp, Nonie Sharp, John Hinkson,…