Seminar: Performance Art and Curating
Speaker: Francesco Kiais
About the Seminar: We often forget the original meaning of the words we use. When we use the word “curate” (an exhibition, e.g.) we usually refer to a specific sphere of acts and relations which are perceived like standards in the art world. According to the general meaning of the word, to curate means also to take care of, to heal someone. Nowadays we can see the human societies confronting contradictions and conflicts. The planet shows its fragility, and natural elements are collapsing in front of the power of human technology. Today, more than ever a curator should create opportunities for gathering and reflect in a constructive sense. For this reason a curator can function as the point of contact between institutions, the individuals and the society, making art a territory of coexistence, sharing and encounter. In a path of ideas and images, this seminar aims to give an opportunity to perceive the role of the curator in a wider way, and reflect on the potential of this role in generating culture, starting from the elements offered by the social and cultural environment, whether related to site specific-themes or global issues. Kiais’ talk will focus on how to curate and exhibit Performance Art.
About the Speaker: Italian artist, independent art writer, and curator Francesco Kiàis is currently based in Athens. He is the founder and director of the initiative [mind the] G.A.P. - Gathering Around Performance, as well as an associate curator of the Venice International Performance Art Week. He has been invited to hold lectures by several Universities (Venice, Chicago, Athens, Corfu, Florina), and to lead or participate in round-tables on Performance Art at institution of international level (i.e. Benaki Museum, the Athens Biennale, SALT Istanbul), as well as at Festivals and cultural events. Currently, he teaches at the Masters program of the University of Corfu, Department of Audiovisual Arts.He worked as a facilitator and guest lecturer or leading a workshop for different educational programs on performance art, like PAS | Performance Art Studies, Transient Bodies (Open Space Contemporary and Open Dialogue Istanbul), Performance now (University of West Macedonia), Paris Summer Academy (Micadanse and Oriane Theatre) besides his involvement as a facilitator in The Marathon – Performance Art Workshop (Berlin, Athens, Nicosia, Edmonton).
* The single course fee of the event you want to participate in the seminar series is 100 TL and tickets can only be obtained from the ticket offices. For more information: apply@curatingcontemporaryart.org