AR@K25 symposium "Truth, reality and artistic invention" in Oslo
On March 18, Carolina Lio presents the paper The Politics of Truth in Socially Engaged Art: Agenda or Authenticity? at AR@K, the annual, cross-disciplinary, international symposium for artistic research hosted by Kristiania University in Oslo.
Socially engaged art is often framed as an authentic platform for representing marginalised voices and creating ethical, care-based practices. However, such works inherently rely on selective truths shaped by the artist’s creative intervention and the project’s agenda. Carolina Lio's paper for AR@K25 critically examines the tension between authenticity and distortion in socially engaged art, questioning whether these projects can ever present a neutral reality.
Drawing on her curatorial practice, Lio reflects on how truth is constructed and manipulated within projects aimed at cultural policy and community engagement. For instance, the project Visible positions art as a transformative tool for addressing contemporary crises, yet the narratives it promotes often require careful framing to align with broader goals of social justice and care. Similarly, projects developed through the curatorial studio Looking Forward frequently confront ethical questions of representation when working with underrepresented groups, raising the question: Whose truth is being told, and who decides?
By engaging with theories from Claire Bishop, Grant Kester, and Jacques Rancière, this presentation argues that distortion is not a byproduct but a deliberate strategy within socially engaged art. It invites a rethinking of the ethics of representation and the role of artistic invention in shaping both the perception of truth and its political implications.
Carolina Lio is a curator and lecturer based in London and the Founding Director of Looking Forward, a curatorial office focusing on socially engaged art, cultural policy, and innovative practices at the intersection of art and design. She collaborates with international institutions such as Visible to develop projects that explore art’s potential as a tool for social justice and care. Carolina Lio has over a decade of experience in curating exhibitions, publishing, and public programming, with a particular focus on the ethics of representation and accessibility. Her work bridges theoretical research and practical applications in the global art scene.
