Social turn

The 'social turn' is a term popularized by the critic Claire Bishop around 2006 to describe a marked return of contemporary art to socially engaged practices. It refers to works that are collaborative, often participatory (involving viewers or communities), and in which people, social relationships and shared action become the very material and medium of art rather than merely its subject. Such projects frequently take place outside the gallery — in public space, schools, neighbourhoods or communities — and blur the boundaries between art, activism and social work. The social turn is connected to notions of relational aesthetics (Nicolas Bourriaud), participatory and dialogical art. Bishop both described and critically analysed the phenomenon, insisting that the ethical value of collaboration should not automatically override aesthetic and critical judgement about the quality of a work. This tension between good intentions and artistic conviction remains central to debates about public, community and activist art practices, including in the Ukrainian context, where participatory projects gained importance during periods of social upheaval.