PSI: PERFORMANCE STUDIES iNTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE # 15

10.06.2009 |
In the proposed panel, we would like to reflect upon the ARTCHIVE – Contaminated with History platform, Maska’s one-year programme of research, events, performances, and publications on the history of contemporary art, performance, and society. The processes of historicization in contemporary performing arts will be analysed through theoretical reflections, presentations of working methods and artistic research. The purpose of the panel is to place the discussion on contemporary performing arts into the broader context of art history in the second-half of the 20th century. The format of the panel is conceived as a dynamic working space where several participants (artists, researchers, theoreticians) will present historical examples of performances and actions in their local context, which might be possible examples of how to think about contemporary performance practice in a broader cultural perspective. The event will comprise a presentation of reconstructed performances, proposals about the methodology and reflection on historicization, reflection on the role of artistic archive and reference. The focus will be on intertwining theoretical and practical research of history and the way various kinds of knowledge can be produced from this interdisciplinary perspective. What are the understandings and misunderstandings when dealing with historical references of our own contemporaneity? How is historicization framed by the cultural and political context, especially in the geographical and political surroundings that did not develop and are not represented by institutionalised contexts of contemporary performance in the second half of the 20th century?

The panel will consist of short lectures, interventions, statements and presentations. Invited participants: Samo Gosarič, Janez Janša, Bojana Kunst, Katja Praznik, Jasmina Založnik.

*Maska is a non-profit organization for publishing, production (performances, interdisciplinary and visual artworks), education and research, based in Ljubljana (Slovenia). Maska's theoretical, critical and artistic activities focus on contemporary art and theory, research, experimental performing practices, interdisciplinary art and critical theory.