From Janusz Korczak’s Democratic Pedagogy to Sharon Lockhart’s Artistic Project: Pedagogical Inspiration in Contemporary Art

Abstract

The aim of this article is to present pedagogical inspirations in contemporary art. In pedagogical research and analyses, we more frequently pose questions about the artistic inspirations for educational theory and practice. In the face of the educational turn in contemporary art and culture, it is worth considering inspiration in the opposite direction. The article discusses the project Little Review by the American artist Sharon Lockhart, which was shown during the 57th Venice Biennale of Art (2017). This artistic project was inspired by the democratic and alternative pedagogy of a Polish pedagogue of Jewish origin, Janusz Korczak, who was active before World War II. The characteristic element of such projects, which sit on the border of art and education, is their reference to radical pedagogy and alternative teaching and learning. Today, artists using educational methods look not to official conventional education for inspiration but to non-formal and alternative models. The Little Review is a good example of this type of inspiration in artistic activity. The article briefly presents the democratic pedagogy of Korczak and indicates its influence on the artistic project realised by Sharon Lockhart. It demonstrates the significant opportunities offered by this type of artistic and educational interweaving for both art and education.