Theaster Gates’ practice may be defined as ‘socially engaged art’, ‘urbanism’, ‘spatial practice’, ‘community development’… For Gates what’s important is to move freely accross different disciplines, institutions, and media to address issues of inequality, neglet, and abandonment. He offers an otherwise that is already in the here and now by engaging in extensive work on the archives of African-American history and by using the systems and methods of modern art to actuate inclusion and accountability policies as well as by working in underserved and underfinanced Chicago neighbourhoods. An unquestionably ‘black practice’ that highlights one way of building a future based upon a combination of language, voice, and presence.
