The works in this exhibition, like much of the best architecture of the last 20 years, are in a dialogue with the twentieth century 'high art' tradition called 'modernism'. Tradition in art has always been questioned by artists; there have always been conventions to challenge.
Throughout the centuries, art has been used for religion, for propaganda, for entertainment. Twentieth century critics, from Roger Fry in England at the turn of the century, to Clement Greenberg in America 50 years later, claimed art could exist for its own sake or at least for the sake of the artist and those who bought the work. The artists in this exhibition have claimed art for a new use – art in which the viewer plays a leading role – art for life.