Fanatic Formula
Irrational thought, art and politics since the 20th century

Organizer: Surplus Space
Time: 9:30-18:30, October 20th, 2019
Add：Culture Shore，2th floor Building F , Wuhan Living Room , No.8 Hongtu Avenue , Wuhan.

Since the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, waves of irrational thoughts have swept through, impacted and stimulated various fields of the world, and have bred a group of thinkers, artists (theorists) and politicians, such as Nietzsche, Foucault, Aalto, Van Gogh, Malevich, Pollock, Riegl, Warburg, Hitler, Mussolini, etc. Although their professions and identities are different, they all have varying degrees of irrational will and strength. “Most of them have experienced similar fates that were exiled by the rational world and imprisoned by psychiatry. And on the brink of their mental breakdown, at the end of their physical pain, they continued their unfinished adventures.” Even though those crazy thoughts and actions largely depend on their personal minds and experiences, they all carry the traces of the era in which they live in. Therefore, it has become a unique perspective for us to view the 20th century.

It seems we have entered a new era of irrationality after more than a century today. A variety of fanatical thoughts and actions are making a comeback, not only to resort to extreme politics, but also to the crazy imagination of the future. Perhaps it is another era of creating new ideas, art and politics, which also makes us particularly cherish the irrational heritage since the 20th century. And as historical and theoretical resources, these heritages undoubtedly provide an important reference and motivation for us to face and reflect on the current reality of madness.

Speakers:
Dong Shubao, associate professor of Chinese Department, School of Humanities and Law, North China University of Technology
Zhu Kang, lecturer of International College of Chinese Studies, East China Normal University
Wei Guangji, assistant researcher of School of Arts, Nanjing University
Wang Jiahao, architect and critic
Pu Yingwei, artist and writer
Lu Mingjun, associate professor of Arts College, Sichuan University

Special screening & Speech
Yang Yuanyuan: Shang Francisco (2019)