Compromises! Activists want the skin of the Museum of Modern Art in New York

Twelve small groups are preparing ten weeks of various protests. Their goal is the anti-capitalist dismantling of the museum, and then of the whole city.

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Apparently all is well at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The museum remains open today, despite the pandemic, with a ticket office only online. The correct boxes have been checked and then completed. Everyone should say they are happy. The “Reconstruction” exhibition deals with American architecture seen from the angle of “Blackness”. The great retrospective is dedicated to a woman in the person of the American (yes!) Niki de Saint Phalle. There are also clashes on “broken nature” and “mass incarceration”. Of art, whether it is modern or not, there hardly seems to be any question anymore. It would be trivial at this point. The institution plays its credibility against activists of all stripes (but without fur!). It was initially a question of appeasing the waves. You will see that it did not go as planned. Quite the contrary.

Things started to go wrong in February. One hundred and fifty-seven artists, these people who are both new thinkers and new censors, have called for the resignation of Leon Black, chairman of the board. It must be said that this gentleman developed very close ties with Jeffrey Epstein. I don’t need to tell you more. Better now not to run the minors. Epstein died in prison two years ago. Suicide. But his ghost is, if I may say so, heavy to carry. Among the signatories was of course Chief Petitioner Nan Goldin, plus various prominent figures both male and female. They subsequently obtained the support of Ai Weiwei. The Chinese artist threatened MoMA with the withdrawal of his works. There were also several small groups among the opponents of Mister Black, whom Epstein’s law firm had allowed (against 158 ​​million fees!) To save two billion dollars in taxes. I will cite Decolonize This Place and MoMA Divest. Heavy and serious.

Unethical practices

Black the black sheep has promised not to run Apollo Global Management anymore. But he was keen to keep his seat at MoMA. It was for him a question of “standing”. There are few such prestigious positions in New York. Hence a much more serious crisis today. After all, New York has seen a lot of business since the declaration (against the “Met” this time) of the “Irascibles” in 1950. The Black case has indeed now allowed the unforeseen constitution of a real league made up of twelve associations. These announced from April 7 a militant campaign not to last less than ten weeks. There will be protests. Actions. Community discussions. Everything will be turned against the management of the museum, accused of being linked to unethical practices and people. The aim is to “dismantle” MoMA in its current form ”. We should sever the link with billionaire donors, from Larry Fink to Ronald Lauder, and “re-imagine your role in society”.

From February reformism, we would thus move on to the revolution promised for April. The twelve associations practice what the Soviets called in 1920 “the agit-prop”. Anything can be used. The businessmen to be ousted therefore had, as a whole, links with Jeffrey Epstein. They are linked to Donald Trump. A gentleman who served all the same as president in the United States, even if it is not to the honor of the latter. This areopagus is being accused en bloc of “predatory capitalism, environmental destruction and mass imprisonment”. That smacks of amalgamation. In addition, as you have already guessed, MoMA practices “elitism, hierarchy, inequality, precariousness, racism against blacks and misogyny.” In short, all the great evils (and the big words) of the year. That said, it is true that the MoMA made clear cuts in its spending last year, notably throwing 160 employees, including art teachers, on the block. The annual budget was then reduced from $ 180 million to $ 135.

Redistributions

All of this is unacceptable. It will suddenly be necessary, according to activists, “to dismantle the museum in the light of its toxic history.” It will involve a divestment and the transfer of resources in the form of distributions. Some for “repair funds”. Others for “a better approach to nature”. Still others for “the reestablishment of indigenous lands” or “solidarity economies”. I am shortening. There are thus many other wishes calling for a Justice hitherto little present on Earth. What would remain of the museum, which benefited from an $ 858 million construction and expansion campaign between 2002 and 2004, would pass into the hands of communities and workers. This would be “the first step in a change that could affect all of New York”. We understand that the current management did not see fit to give an answer. She could only add a little oil to the fire.

Glen D. Lowry, the director. Photo Peter Ross DR.