In his work at Parsons, Professor Aziz is witnessing the impact of our changing universe on the creatives who use their work to get their message heard; and specialising in digital imaging, he sees up close the impact of digital technology on student’s preferred methods of communication. These are the students who will help shape our future. And this is the word from the ground up.

Tempe Nakiska (Hero): As an artist, you have in the past used mediums like photography and film to express your thoughts on particular political issues. What does politics mean to today’s generation of art grads?

Anthony Aziz: The Fine Arts program at Parsons and The New School is committed to fostering a deep appreciation for social justice and political awareness. However, the majority of young artists do not seem to be working in the same way today. Politically conscious young artists bypass making art objects altogether and focus more on direct political action, positioning that as their artistic practice. This could be the creation of spaces devoted to social change, or starting publications that raise political awareness.

With that said, in New York there are many interesting young curators who organise shows that include many of our recent graduates that deal with social and political issues that are important to them, sometimes in the form of public art projects. ‘Art in Odd Places’, for example, curated by Radhika Subramaniam, or the New Museum’s recent IDEAS CITY project that involved numerous public art projects that addressed relevant issues important to the neighbourhood of the Lower East Side.

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Ariela Kader ‘Social Trash – WANNA TRY’ 2013. Courtesy Parsons The New School and the artist