THE PROVINCIALISM PROBLEM

Terry Smith

Provincialism appears primarily as an attitude of subservience to an externally imposed hierarchy of cultural values. It is not simply the product of a colonialist history; nor is it merely a function of geographic location. Most New York artists, critics, collectors, dealers, and gallery-goers are provincialist in their work, attitudes and positions within the system. Members of art worlds outside New York––on every continent, including North America––are likewise provincial, although in different ways. The projection of the New York art world as the metropolitan center for art by every other art world is symptomatic of the provincialism of each of them.

Most of us treat this projection as if it were a construction of reality––and it is, in the sense that it is almost universally shared. However, those who are able to live adequately within the framework of respect for the essential differentness of diverse yet related cultures recognize that the projection does not have the force of “natural law.” It is rather, a viewpoint that, while effectively governing majority behaviour, is as culturally relative as any other. That is, it is one among many ways of defining the (different) situations we are in.

Yet, whatever one‟s approach, the complex of metropolitan/provincial interrelationships persistently impinges. While they are obviously denoted in some (perhaps most) artworks, they are connoted by all. Shelving the questions they raise as insoluble or trivial is irresponsible. Awareness of these questions has consequences for action throughout the art system. They set a problematic relevant to all of us.

Read the rest of the article at Art Forum:

Smith, Terry. “The Provincialism Problem - Terry Smith.” Artforum, 2011, arthistoriography.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/smith-provincialism-problem-1974.pdf.