Ars longa, Vita brevis. Organisational paradoxes through the lens of street art.

Authors

  • Aubouin Nicolas Paris School of Business - Chaire NewPIC
  • Alexandra Le Chaffotec
  • Jean-Max Koskievic
  • Clémence Aubert-Tarby

Keywords:

Street art, organizational paradoxes, organizational artefact, art-based research, art thinking

Abstract

This article aims to renew the dialog between art and organization by highlighting the role of street art as a revelation of organizational tensions and paradoxes. In order to understand the role of a work of street art as an organizational artifact, we analyze it as an artistic practice integrated into a process of institutionalization that involves four key contrasting dimensions of organizational analysis: ephemeral/perennial; visible/invisible; individual/collective; improvisation/routines. These dimensions then echo four paradoxical logics of organization (Smith & Lewis 2011) that we highlight around the issues of learning, belonging, management, and execution. Also, by starting with the work of the street artist Invader and his work "Dr House," we reveal the tensions "at work" and "in the work" in organizations, allowing us to highlight three key dimensions of the work as a pedagogical artifact, and a driving force for managerial action and research in management sciences. Finally, this work suggests a better understanding of the triggering of paradoxes and the accompaniment of paradox management in organizations.

Author Biographies

Aubouin Nicolas, Paris School of Business - Chaire NewPIC

Nicolas Aubouin is Associate Professor and member of the NewPic PSB Paris School of Business Chair. His main research areas are art and creativity management and human resources management. More specifically, his research aims to understand professional dynamics, the role of management tools and the processes involved in institutionalising new creative practices and spaces. This work is based on research rooted in various organisations (institutions or companies), and more particularly in the field of third places and open labs, particularly in the field of art and culture. It is also part of a collaboration, as an associate researcher, with the Centre de gestion scientifique - Mines ParisTech (Université PSL).

Alexandra Le Chaffotec

Alexandra Le Chaffotec is Associate Professor and member of the NewPic Chair at PSB Paris School of Business. She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, and her research focuses mainly on organisational issues. She works on subjects such as organisational innovation, the trade-off between different modes of governance, organisational performance, innovation management, the creation and transfer of knowledge within networks and ecosystems, and the institutionalisation of practices. She applies these questions mainly to cases in the healthcare sector and new innovation sites.

Jean-Max Koskievic

Jean-Max Koskievic is Associate Professor at the Paris School of Business. He holds a PhD in Economics and is an Associate Professor at the Paris School of Business in the Economics and Business Information Department. His research interests include financial participation and negotiations in uncertain environments, as well as the art market. After working for many years in international consultancies as an expert in executive remuneration strategies, and as a collector and art enthusiast, he decided in 2008 to set up ‘ARTMAX’, a sourcing, trading and brokerage firm specialising in Post-War Modern and Contemporary Art. He is also a regular contributor to ‘Le Cercle Les Echos’, ‘L'Obs’ and ‘The Conversation’.

Clémence Aubert-Tarby

Clémence Aubert-Tarby was a lecturer at the Paris School of Business from 2010 to 2020, and is currently head of the Studi programme. She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, and her research focuses on atypical forms of employment and the media economy. She has examined the use of atypical employment in the media sector, as well as in specific organisations such as hospitals. After ten years as Associate Professor at the Paris School of Business, she is now Head of Training at Studi.

Published

2021-10-27

How to Cite

Aubouin Nicolas, Alexandra Le Chaffotec, Jean-Max Koskievic, & Clémence Aubert-Tarby. (2021). Ars longa, Vita brevis. Organisational paradoxes through the lens of street art. Revue Internationale De Psychosociologie Et De Gestion Des Comportements Organisationnels, 27(71). Retrieved from https://journaleska.com/index.php/ripco/article/view/9538

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 71 (2021): RIPCO

Section

Articles