Propositions for Non-Fascist Living
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PROPOSITIONS FOR NON-FASCIST LIVING PROPOSITIONS #2: Assemblism 25 NOVEMBER 2017 Performative conference Program With: Propositions #2: Assemblism Kate Shea Baird (Barcelona en We are witnessing the rise of a political representatives, and activists Comú); Merve Bedir (architect and new authoritarian world order. discuss the cultural dimensions of co-founder of Land+Civilization From Trump in the United States performative assembly, from pan- Compositions); Grégory Castéra to Temer in Brazil, from manifold European movements to forms of (curator and co-founder of Council ultranationalist and fascist non-human assembly, seeking new Paris); Maya Felixbrodt (composer and movements in Europe to Erdoğan in alliances in the face of the rising musician); iLiana Fokianaki (writer Turkey, from Putin in Russia to Modi authoritarian world order. and curator, State of Concept, Extra in India: new divisions of “us” and City); Quinsy Gario (artist, activist, “them” are imposed. Propositions #2: Assemblism is the and 2017–2018 BAK Fellow); Menno second performative conference of Grootveld (DiEM25 The Netherlands); Simultaneously, from the Arab Spring BAK’s long-term research itinerary Havin Güneşer (journalist and to Los Indignados, from the Rojava Propositions for Non-Fascist women’s rights activist, Freedom for Revolution to Black Lives Matter Living, prompted by the dramatic Abdullah Öcalan/Peace in Kurdistan); and the rise of new pan-European resurfacing and normalization Ernst van den Hemel (researcher movements, millions of bodies have of historical and contemporary at Utrecht University and activist); gathered in liberated autonomous fascisms in our present. Propositions Birgitta Jónsdóttir (poet, Icelandic zones, occupied buildings, city for Non-Fascist Living attempts to Pirate Party); KUCHENGA (writer squares, prisons, and cultural spaces articulate and inhabit methods of and agitator, Black Lives Matter to collectively enact a different de-individualized living; methods in UK, Bent Bars Collective); Aurélie demand for egalitarian society. which multiplicity and difference Lierman (radio producer, vocalist, enact relations other than those and composer); Lorenzo Marsili Philosopher Judith Butler terms enamored with power and hierarchy. (founder of European Alternatives such practices as “performative and member of DiEM25 coordinating assembly,” 1 describing how bodies Propositions #2: Assemblism committee); Shela Sheikh (researcher whose structures of life support is developed following the 2017 at Goldsmiths, University of London); are severely threatened gather, collaboration between Jonas Staal (artist and founder of seeking new collectivity in response BAK and Studio Jonas Staal’s New Unions); Igor Stokfiszewski to their shared experience of campaign New Unions (2016– (journalist, artist, and activist, precarity. Butler partially relies on ongoing), with contributions from, Political Critique, DiEM25); and an artistic vocabulary to describe among others, architect Paul Kuipers Samuel Vriezen (composer and writer). how performative assembly brings and designer Remco van Bladel. The into being different social forms of campaign developed installations living and alternate institutionalities. for the public assemblies of the She speaks of the assembly as pan-European Democracy in Europe “assemblage” 2 and as a practice with Movement 2025 (DiEM25), which are “theatrical” 3 components. on display during the performative conference. What democratic cultures manifest through assemblist practices? And The activities of BAK have been 1 Judith Butler, Notes Toward a Performative Theory how do such democratic cultures made possible through financial of Assembly (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University contribute to establishing new forms contributions by the Dutch Ministry Press, 2015). 2 Ibid., p. 68. of emancipatory (self-)governance? of Education, Culture and Science 3 Ibid., p. 85. During this event, art workers, and the City Council, Utrecht. Program 11.30–12.00 12.30–12.40 15.15–16.45 DOORS OPEN INTRODUCTION BY MODERATOR ILIANA FOKIANAKI SECOND ASSEMBLY: NON-HUMAN ASSEMBLAGES Keynote by Shela Sheikh (researcher, Goldsmiths, University of London), followed 12.00–12.10 12.40–13.10 by a conversation with Merve Bedir (architect, WELCOME: PROPOSITIONS FOR NON-FASCIST LIVING KEYNOTE LECTURE BY LORENZO MARSILI Land+Civilization Compositions), moderated Maria Hlavajova (BAK, basis voor actuele kunst, by Grégory Castéra (curator and co-founder of Utrecht) Council Paris) 13.10–13.25 What does it mean when a contemporary RESPONSE BY IGOR STOKFISZEWSKI Practices of performative assembly are art institution parts from traditional modes often understood as forms of human of societal critique and moves toward gathering, but humans depend also on one of propositions, especially when 13.25–13.50 larger ecological assemblages. How do confronting the rise of a new, authoritarian CONVERSATION non-human subjectivities assemble, and world order? how are their political agencies to be understood and recognized? 13.50–13.55 12.10–12.30 STATEMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE BY MENNO ASSEMBLISM: INTRODUCTION GROOTVELD 15.15–15.25 Jonas Staal (artist, New Unions) INTRODUCTION BY GRÉGORY CASTÉRA How to define, through the work of Butler, 13.55–14.00 the artistic dimension of performative SUMMARY BY ILIANA FOKIANAKI 15.25–15.45 assembly? And how does assemblism LECTURE BY SHELA SHEIKH change the practices of artists, and the definition of art as such? 14.00–14.15 COMPOSING ASSEMBLY—FIRST ACT 15.45–16.05 Composition by Maya Felixbrodt (composer LECTURE BY MERVE BEDIR 12.30–14.00 and musician), Aurélie Lierman (radio artist, FIRST ASSEMBLY: THE PAN-EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY vocalist, and composer), and Samuel Vriezen Keynote by Lorenzo Marsili (European (composer and writer) 16.05–16.40 Alternatives, DiEM25), with iLiana Fokianaki CONVERSATION (writer and curator, State of Concept Athens, How do the manifold voices and manifold Extra City), Menno Grootveld (DiEM25 The composers in performative assembly Netherlands), and Igor Stokfiszewski (Political translate to new democratic cultures—a 16.40–16.45 Critique, DiEM25) musical culture in particular? SUMMARY BY GRÉGORY CASTÉRA The future of the European Union has been taken hostage by the ultranationalists 14.15–15.15 16.45–17.00 gathered in the “Leave” campaign and the LUNCH BREAK COMPOSING ASSEMBLY—SECOND ACT Eurocratic austerity elite in the “Remain” Composition by Maya Felixbrodt (composer camp. What other options can be imagined and musician), Aurélie Lierman (radio artist, and put into practice in order to assemble a vocalist, and composer), and Samuel Vriezen transdemocratic union? (composer and writer) 17.00–17.30 18.10–18.25 BREAK ERNST VAN DEN HEMEL IN CONVERSATION WITH KATE SHEA BAIRD 17.30–19.30 THIRD ASSEMBLY: AFTER THE ASSEMBLY 18.25–18.40 Conversation between Kate Shea Baird ERNST VAN DEN HEMEL IN CONVERSATION WITH (Barcelona en Comú), Havin Güneşer (Freedom BIRGITTA JÓNSDÓTTIR for Abdullah Öcalan/Peace in Kurdistan), Birgitta Jónsdóttir (Icelandic Pirate Party), and KUCHENGA (Black Lives Matter UK), moderated 18.40–19.25 by Ernst van den Hemel (researcher at Utrecht CONVERSATION University and activist) In North and West Kurdistan, decades 19.25–19.30 of secretive assembly have led to SUMMARY BY ERNST VAN DEN HEMEL revolutionary declarations of regional autonomy. In Catalonia and Spain, 15M/ Los Indignados translated energies and 19.30–19.45 imaginaries into new political parties and COMPOSING ASSEMBLY—CLOSING ACT municipal governance. How is power taken Composition by Maya Felixbrodt (composer and practiced differently after the moment and musician), Aurélie Lierman (radio artist, of assembly? vocalist, and composer), and Samuel Vriezen (composer and writer) 17.30–17.40 INTRODUCTION BY ERNST VAN DEN HEMEL 19.45–20.45 DINNER 17.40–17.55 ERNST VAN DEN HEMEL IN CONVERSATION WITH HAVIN 20.45–21.30 GÜNEŞER ROET IN HET ETEN BOOK LAUNCH Book launch of Roet in het Eten by Quinsy Gario (poet, artist, and 2017–2018 BAK Fellow) 17.55–18.10 ERNST VAN DEN HEMEL IN CONVERSATION WITH KUCHENGA A vegetarian lunch (€5) and dinner (€10) catered by Utrecht-based Rammenas and Koffie Leute can be purchased during the event. KATE SHEA BAIRD GRÉGORY CASTÉRA Kunsthal, Antwerp. Fokianaki is the joined Barcelona en Comú in June of is a co-founder and co-director of founder of State of Concept Athens, 2014. She coordinates the platform’s Council, Paris. He has served as Athens. International Committee, which a co-director of Les Laboratoires organized the Fearless Cities summit d’Aubervilliers, Aubervilliers, a STATE OF CONCEPT ATHENS in June 2017, bringing together over coordinator of Bétonsalon, Paris, Founded in 2013, State of Concept 100 municipal platforms from all over and is a co-author at the online Athens is the first nonprofit gallery the world for the first time. project Encyclopédie de la Parole in Greece to promote Greek and (Encyclopedia of Spoken Words). international artists through BARCELONA EN COMÚ exhibitions. In addition, State of Launched in June 2014, Barcelona en COUNCIL Concept Athens organizes a variety Comú functions as a citizen platform. Council is a nonprofit organization of events, projects, and aims to be Its political agenda advocates based in Paris that assembles a bridge between Athens and the social justice and community rights, knowledge from the arts, sciences, international contemporary art scene. promotes participatory democracy, and civil society in order to foster and develops a new model of tourism new