Statement on the Current Debate About Freedom of Art

A contribution to the current debate on art, its freedom, and its political appropriation.
In his 2025 statement, Peter Noever calls for art that dares to dissent — free from ideology or power, remaining independent even when freedom is uncomfortable.

Art is risk.
Art follows no command.
Art seeks the open—not merely consensus.
Those who demand art demand dissent.
It must not be tamed by morality or power.
It speaks where others remain silent.
Art emerges in the in-between—between languages, systems, nations.
It belongs to no state, no ideology, no camp.
Art is often accused of affiliation, yet this closeness is to people, not to any regime.

Malevich painted the zero point.
Shostakovich composed the tension.
Currentzis seeks the unsaid between the notes.

Art must not bend.
Art must remain free—especially when the freedom of art becomes uncomfortable.

— Peter Noever
chair art_curia - October 26, 2025

kunst ist risiko
kunst folgt keinem befehl
kunst sucht das offene — nicht alleine den konsens
wer kunst verlangt, verlangt widerspruch
sie darf nicht gezähmt werden durch moral oder macht
sie spricht wo andere schweigen
kunst entsteht im dazwischen  — zwischen sprachen, systemen, nationen
sie gehört keinem staat, keiner ideologie, keinem lager
man wirft der kunst oft nähe vor, doch die nähe gilt den menschen, nicht einem regime
malewitsch malte den nullpunkt
schostakowitsch kompinierte den zwiespalt
currentzis sucht das ungesagte zwischen den tönen
kunst darf sich nicht beugen
kunst muss frei bleiben — gerade dann wenn die freiheit der kunst unbequem wird.

peter noever
chair art_curia - October 26, 2025

Times they are changing. No space for art?

Vienna Peace Conference
Friday, Dec. 5

 „The conference is exclusively open to the Curia for Science and Art International. A selected group of art students from the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna is getting involved as well.“

Website: Kurien der Wissenschaft & Kunst