Anthony Byrt and the discussion of art

What should artists and writers do in a world where things can seem to be coming apart?

That was the subject tackled by art critic and journalist Anthony Byrt at Wintec’s  Spark festival on Tuesday.

Byrt introduced his first book ‘This Model World: Travels to the Edge of Contemporary Art’ which was published last year.

He also focused on the responsibilities of contemporary artist and writers in the current world political climate.

“Given what’s going on in the world right now globally, what is our responsibility to address those things, to talk about them, where part of a globalised world and the globalised world seems to be coming apart, so what do artist and writers need to do to address the big issues/questions?” said Byrt.

Spark was a homecoming of sorts for Byrt, who taught art history at Wintec when in his mid 20s.

“I have a long affinity with this place, I was  involved in the Spark festival 13 years ago and have also been involved in Ramp Gallery, so I was really interested in coming back and kind of reconnecting with people because a lot of those people are still here,” said Byrt.

Byrt, who is about to take up a two-month residency at the Michael King writer’s centre in Devonport,  has a new book on the go.

“I’ve started work on a new book, hoping to publish late 2018 or early 2019, which kind of comes out of my current book. There’s a chapter about an artist called Billy Apple in there, and there’s a particular story I tell of Billy’s early life in London, and my publisher and I kind of realised that there was potentially a whole book project just in that.

“I’m also working on a big project with a New Zealand artist for November, which is a little bit confidential at the moment because it’s got some politically sensitive material in it.”

Byrt says it’s difficult to advise anyone wanting to follow a similar path  because the world is changing so quickly and so fundamentally.

“The most important thing I think is to be creative and take risk because the truth is, in 25 years’ time, maybe none of us will have jobs. So what do you want to do in the world and how do you contribute to the world is the more important question.

“To be bold, to find your peers and if you’re interested in arts or journalism, find the artist of your own age who are doing interesting things because those people will be the ones you follow with through your whole career sometimes.”