99%: Populism in Politics, Contemporary Art, and Curatorial Practice

This doctoral curatorial project examines populism’s intersection with contemporary art and curatorial practice. Motivated by the global rise of populist movements, policies, and leaders since the 2010s—spanning both the political left and right—it challenges dominant art discourse which tends to frame populism as solely in terms of right-wing or as mere audience-driven exhibition-making and artmaking. Through six chapters, it engages political theory from Ernesto Laclau, Chantal Mouffe, Benjamin Moffitt, Kurt Weyland and others to analyse various artists’ populist strategies. A key practical component, my temporary gallery in Naarm/Melbourne named 99%, tested these ideas through its exhibition programming.<p></p>