THE
CAMILLE DIARIES Symposium will discuss new artistic projects
by eleven international women and non-binary artists (installations,
video, objects, performance), currently exhibited in our show The
Camille Diaries. Current Artistic Positions on M/otherhood, Life
and Care (until 4 October 2020).
Reflecting
on the current conditions of our world (environmental changes, gender
aspects, biopolitics, etc.), the artists' positions propose an 'aesthetics
of care' as the basis for inter-species coexistence. Here, the planet
is understood as a symbiotic web in which we are all entangled with
one another (humans, plants, animals, environment) – on molecular,
organic, ethical and biopolitical levels. The artistic positions
investigate reproductive mechanisms, biochemical connections between
humans and nonhumans, and refer to alternative biomaterials as "source
of life" in future times of scarcity and crisis. The title
"The Camille Diaries" alludes to the "Camille Stories"
the final chapter of "Staying with the Trouble" (2016)
by philosopher and biologist Donna Haraway, a speculative future
where a dwindling human population replaces births with care between
species. Each "Camille" cares for the genetic material
of an endangered species (the monarch butterfly) by storing parts
of that material in their own DNA.
The one-day symposium will bring the artists together with researchers
from the humanities and natural sciences into a critical dialogue.
In different panels we will discuss alternative concepts of m/others,
wombs and placentas, fluid inheritance and modes of care. We will
reflect on genetic and biochemical exchanges between human and nonhuman,
both part of and remedy for the Anthropocene. Here the theme of
biotechnological transfigurations of human bodies places the human
being on the periphery and rather directs our full attention to
other living beings – a basic understanding of other species
and organisms from a feminist perspective. On the basis of the exhibited
works, we will discuss concepts of "Collective survival"
and "Arts of noticing" (A. Tsing), "Staying with
the Trouble" (D. Haraway), and in particular “Bodies of
water” connected to hydrofeminism (A. Neimanis).
Concept
of Symposium: Regine Rapp & Christian de Lutz
0:00 Introduction | Regine Rapp & Christian de Lutz
16:46 Introductory Talk | Astrida Neimanis
1:23:25 Panel A | M/others, Wombs and Placentas
2:57:16 Panel B | Fluid Inheritance
4:26:04 Panel C | Modes of Care
6:28:07 M/others and Future Humans | Eben Kirksey
7:08:15 Final Discussion | Regine Rapp & Christian de Lutz
Abstracts
and biographies
Team: Regine Rapp, Christian de Lutz, Tuçe Erel, Linus Kaufhold, Palooka Frank, Natacha Lamounier Ribeiro, Ayla Warncke
Associated project partners:The project THE CAMILLE DIARIES arose from a generous invitation to take part in the international curatorial swarm for the open call »M/others and Future Humans«, initiated by Ida Bencke (LABAE,Copenhagen, DK) and Eben Kirksey (Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, USA).
Realised with the generous funding of the German Capital City Funds, The Berlin Senate Office for Culture and Europe and the Slovene Cultural Center in Berlin.
Special thanks to Tim Deussen
Media partners:
art-in-berlin.de, www.art-in-berlin.de
AVIVA-Berlin Online Magazin für Frauen, www.aviva-berlin.de
