Salvaging Solidarities. Die Kunst der Solidarität in Zeiten von Austeritätspolitik, Nationalismus und Rechtsruck?

In the organizer's words:

Artistic Research and Workshop

Program:

14:00 - 14:30 Welcome

14:30 - 15:30 Patrik Thomas: Film and the Collective

16:00 - 17:30 Lisa Jeschke & Maria VMier: Secret Work - Lecture and Dialogue

18:00 - 18:45 Cana Bilir-Meier: Artistic strategies and resistant narratives
in "This makes me want to predict the past"

18:45- 19:30 Initiative München OEZ Erinnern: Erinnern heißt, sich verbünden.
Solidarity against right-wing terror, racism and anti-Semitism

20:30 - 22:00 Nuray Demir & Michael Annoff: The Dreams of the Arty Class

Accompanying exhibition: July 1, until July 19, 2024 (Mon - Fri: 10 am - 5 pm)

With a group of works by Justin Lieberman (including the flyer motif), "This Makes me want to predict the past" by Cana Bilir-Meier and a short film montage by Patrik Thomas.

Socially engaged art? Community-based art? Arte útil? For some time now, international discourses have been diagnosing a "social turn" in contemporary art. But what does that mean? And how does this trend relate to initiatives that politicize the cultural sector itself as a place of exploitation, discrimination, invisible (care) work and structural violence? Moreover, the questionable combination of art and social engagement is taking place in the midst of growing inequality, increasingly precarious living conditions and an austerity-political, authoritarian-nationalist to neo-fascist "management" of the crises of the present.

This mixed situation suggests a questioning of the involvement of socio-critical art practices in the prevailing capitalist organization of social life. Against this background, what might an art practice look like that is dedicated to the exploration, reflection, salvaging and cultivation of solidary relationships? What would "Salvaging Solidarities" mean? What are the potentials and pitfalls of collective artistic expression? To what extent can works of art incorporate the idea of solidarity in process, form and content?

With this in mind, the workshop invites various theoretical, artistic and activist positions to a debate on solidarity. The contributions will be followed by audience discussions and snacks will of course also be provided.

Organization: Chris Reitz