Lecture series: Facing Forward #4 "FUTURE FREEDOM"

Following the successful lecture series and publications “Right About Now: Art & Theory in the 1990s” and “Now is the Time: Art & Theory in the 21st Century”, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, the University of Amsterdam, de Appel arts centre, W139, the Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam, and Metropolis M, jointly present a new series of lectures and debates: "Facing Forward: Art & Theory from a Future Perspective."

This series and its forthcoming publication will discuss art and theory of the future, focusing on seven themes that together envision possible futures for contemporary art and theory, and offering innovative models and strategies with which to look at our collective future.

Over the course of seven evenings, renowned international speakers will share their perspectives on the topics of Future Tech, Future Image, Future History, Future Freedom, Future Museum, Future City and ultimately, Future’s Future.

Part 4: "Future Freedom", with Paul Chan and Hito Steyerl

Speakers: Paul Chan, Hito Steyerl

Moderator: to be confirmed

In discussions about the current revolutions in the Arab world, it is often said that they are engaged in a struggle for future democracy, which is couched as a typical western ideal. However, the question arises as to whether a struggle for freedom actually embraces democracy as the ultimate aim. Like all political ideologies, democracy is charged with specific power structures. Furthermore, with the emergence of right-wing political parties, concepts such as freedom, power, and democracy have been reappropriated and become the subject of much discussion in many western democracies. For example, in the Netherlands, the right-wing Partij van de Vrijheid (PVV) (Party of Freedom; in itself a non-democratic party), which holds that the integrity of the nation is threatened by immigration and certain religious groups, tolerates a government of Christian Democrats and Liberals. What place does the concept of freedom have in our present parliamentary democracy, and what is the future of freedom? Is freedom possible for everyone or achievable by a only select few? Does the power of democracy or democratic power stand in the way of freedom? And what does this mean for the free or liberal arts, which are under such enormous pressure in the current political climate?

About the speakers:

PAUL CHAN is a visual artist and film maker, born in Hong Kong and now living in the United States. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago School and Bard College, where he received his B.F.A. and M.F.A. in Video/Digital Arts and Film/Video/New Media respectively. Chan has exhibited internationally. Some of his solo exhibitions include: Sade for Sades Sake (2009, Greene Naftali Gallery, New York), The 7 Lights (2007, New Museum for Contemporary Art, New York; Serpentine Gallery, London; and Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, among others), and at Magasin 3 in Stockholm (2006), Portikus in Frankfurt (2006), Para/Site Art Space in Hong Kong (2006) and Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston (2005). Chan’s work has also been included in numerous international group exhibitions and biennials. He has also published several books and catalogues and his essays have been included in such journals as October, Artforum, Art Review, Texte Zur Kunst and E-Flux Journal. In 2011 he co-edited (with Sven Lütticken) the E-Flux Journal about populism.

HITO STEYERL is a documentary filmmaker, theorist and art critic who holds a PhD in Philosophy. Her work, which examines issues such as migration, globalization, feminism, and postcolonial critique, comprises film, essays, and installations. She has lectured at Goldsmith’s College, London and the Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, among other institutions. Steyerl’s films include: After the Crash, 2009; Do you speak Spamsoc, 2008; Lovely Andrea, 2007; and November, 2004. Recent exhibitions include: Vectors of the Possible, BAK, Utrecht, 2010; A History of Irritated Material, Raven Row, London, 2010; Im Moment des Verdachts [In the Event of Suspicion], 2010, Bielefelder Kunstverein, Bielefeld, 2010; Alles Anders? [Everything Else?], Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna, 2010; Hito Steyerl: After the Crash, Artspace, Auckland, 2009; and Red Alert, Kunsthalle Winterthur, Switzerland, 2008. Steyerl also publishes widely about art and theory in such publications as E-Flux, Texte Zur Kunst and Artforum.

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