This autoethnographic study explores the often overlooked and undervalued roles of assistants in the contemporary art world, focusing on their experiences of alienation and burnout. Through a combination of personal narrative and theoretical analysis, it examines how support roles, despite being essential to artistic production, remain invisible within the dominant art discourse that idolizes creative authorship. I begin with a reflection on my experiences as both an assistant and a curator, highlighting instances of emotional labor and burnout among support staff. The narrative is contextualized within broader cultural and social frameworks, drawing on feminist theory and sociological studies that critique the hierarchical nature of artistic labor. Extending to autofictional literature, the analysis showcases how assistants articulate their alienation and critique the art world’s exploitative dynamics. By interweaving personal and literary accounts, the study underscores the paradox of interdependence in art, where the labor of assistants is both indispensable and disregarded. The conclusion advocates for a reexamination of artworld structures, urging greater recognition and support for those in support roles.
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September 2024
Research Article|
September 01 2024
Can the Alienated Helper Speak?: Exploring Burnout among Art Assistants in Contemporary Art
Tereza Stejskalová
Tereza Stejskalová
Tereza Stejskalová is the director of tranzit.cz, a contemporary art initiative in Prague, Czech Republic, as well as a curator, translator, and researcher.
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Afterimage (2024) 51 (3): 71–86.
Citation
Tereza Stejskalová; Can the Alienated Helper Speak?: Exploring Burnout among Art Assistants in Contemporary Art. Afterimage 1 September 2024; 51 (3): 71–86. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/aft.2024.51.3.71
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