Worlding Ecologies Symposium
- A two-day symposium on art, science and activism for climate justice, with contributions by Federica Bueti, Eva Burgering, Lisa Doeland, Taru Elfving, Sami Hammana, Christopher F. Julien, Niekolaas Johannes Lekkerkerk, Michael Marder, Victoria McKenzie, Vincent Normand and Filipa Ramos.
- Public book launch: on Saturday 19 October, from 17:00–19:00, we will organize a public launch of the publication Worlding Ecologies
What: Worlding Ecologies Symposium
When: 19 and 20 oktober 2024. Doors: 10:30, Symposium hours: Saturday 11:00–16:30 / Sunday: 11:00–17:30
Where: RADIUS Watertoren, Kalverbos 22 en RADIUS, Kalverbos 20, Delft, NL.
Organized by: RADIUS, Kalverbos 20, Delft, NL
Language: English
Admission: Tickets: € 25 (dayt), € 40 (two days), € 0 (public book launch). Tickets available here
Symposiumtickets (betaald) zijn inclusief lunch en gratis toegang tot de tentoonstelling FEMKE HERREGRAVEN: DIALECT.
Please RSVP here to attend the public book launch.
Following the recent release of the publication WORLDING ECOLOGIES, published in collaboration with RADIUS, we would like to invite you to the two-day WORLDING ECOLOGIES SYMPOSIUM for a series of lectures and panel discussions with various authors, as well as a convivial launch of the publication. The symposium aims at a further discursive unfolding of the various topics addressed by the authors of the book, shaped by three panels taking place over two days: Art & Institutional Ecosystems (October 19), Science & Climate Truth (October 20) and Activism & Climate Justice (October 20). The aim of this event is to bring together artists, scholars, curators, philosophers, activists, scientists and anyone interested in discussing the possibilities of worlding a more earthly Earth. Each panel will feature three lectures, followed by a dialogue and the possibility of public interaction.
PROGRAM 19 OCTOBER
11:00 — 12:30
OPENING AND INTRODUCTION OF THE WORLDING ECOLOGIES SYMPOSIUM
With Niekolaas Johannes Lekkerkerk (director of RADIUS and co-editor of WORLDING ECOLOGIES).
12:30 — 14:00
LUNCH
14:00 — 16:30
ART & INSTITUTIONAL ECOSYSTEMS
With Federica Bueti (writer and lecturer, author of Critical Poetics of Feminist Refusals: Voicing Dissent Across Differences), Taru Elfving (curator and writer, and artistic director of CAA Contemporary Art Archipelago) and Vincent Normand (art historian, writer, curator and author of Theater, Garden, Bestiary: A Materialist History of Exhibitions).
What role should art institutions play in the pursuit of a more sustainable and climate-just system? The ART & INSTITUTIONAL ECOSYSTEMS panel will explore the multifaceted responsibilities and considerations of artistic and institutional practices within the discourse of art and ecology. This panel will not only highlight the potential impact of these institutions, but also explore how they can overcome a purely thematic affiliation to become crucial stakeholders in integrating sustainable policies into their organizational frameworks and tentacularly extending their programming into extended societal spheres. Art institutions occupy a vital position in society in the production of subjectivity. As such, their commitment to sustainability extends beyond their physical activities to encompass a broader responsibility in promoting environmental awareness and action. Speakers on this panel will delve into the dynamic interplay between art institutions and artists in promoting a more ecologically conscious system, while exploring the relevance of intersectional approaches in this regard.
17:00 — 19:00
PUBLIC LAUNCH OF THE WORLDING ECOLOGIES PUBLICATION AND DRINKS RECEPTION
With Eva Burgering (co-editor of WORLDING ECOLOGIES), Simone Wegman (project editor Valiz).
Welcome to this free, cozy moment, in which we celebrate the launch of WORLDING ECOLOGIES. Co-editor Eva Burgering and Valiz project editor Simone Wegman provide insight into the content and the origins of this publication, followed by drinks and the opportunity to sign books and get in touch with the various authors.
PROGRAM OCTOBER 20
11:00 — 13:30
SCIENCE & CLIMATE TRUTH
With Sami Hammana (artist and lecturer, head of the Honours Programme at Willem de Kooning Academy), Michael Marder (professor of philosophy at the University of the Basque Country and author of Time Is a Plant) and Filipa Ramos (writer, curator and lecturer, and curator of Bestiari, the Catalan representation at the 60th Venice Biennale).
The panel SCIENCE & CLIMATE TRUTH examines the multifaceted nature of climate responsibility through the lenses of science and artistic practice. Climate truth encompasses not only the scientific evidence of climate change (matters of fact), but also the broader societal and cultural narratives that shape our understanding of climate issues. This entails acknowledging the interconnectedness of human actions within ecologies and recognizing the imperative for collective action to mitigate climate change and its impacts. Through an examination of ecology as a scientific discipline and its potential integration within the art field, this panel invites you to consider the language and methods used in the climate discourse, as well as facilitating the exploration of truth-finding beyond Western paradigms, common thinking, and behaviour. The speakers in this panel explore the intertwined concerns of fossil fuel dependence, the dichotomy between individualistic thought and collective consciousness, and the importance of community and solidarity in pursuing sustainable other-than-human futures. What methods and methodologies might we employ to navigate the intricate web of local and planetary scales and reaches, all the while pursuing a more locally grounded approach and curbing the tide of climate change?
13:30 — 15:00
LUNCH
15:00 — 17:30
ACTIVISM & CLIMATE JUSTICE
With Lisa Doeland (philosopher and lecturer, author of Apocalypsofie), Christopher F. Julien (activist, researcher, spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion NL, and author of Alledaags Activisme), and Victoria McKenzie (academic activist, teacher, and artist).
The panel ACTIVISM & CLIMATE JUSTICE presents a discussion on the vital role of protest movements and climate activism by shedding light on the dynamic interconnectedness between artistic practice, political engagement, and environmental justice. As climate activism increasingly unfolds within and through both societal and artistic contexts in holding corporate entities and political establishments to climate responsibility—from targeted paintings to public demonstrations and legal work towards institutional accountability—the speakers in this panel will discuss the multifaceted dimensions and potential of activism and protest within the context of the art field. Through the lenses of environmental care and social equity, climate justice calls for a transformative approach that fosters resilience and sustainability for the collective well-being of humanity and the planet. In this panel, climate justice is set forth as an embodied practice driven by the ethical imperative to ensure that the impacts of climate change are not borne disproportionately by marginalized communities and future generations, but are instead shared equitably among all. This underscores the need to rectify historical and structural injustices that have exacerbated environmental degradation and perpetuated social inequalities.
⌀ Note that both locations are not wheelchair accessible. Please get in contact with us to discuss alternative ways to allow your participation.
⌀ The WORLDING ECOLOGIES SYMPOSIUM is funded by the Municipality of Delft and Ekoplaza.