workshop for art and culture professional

About the Workshop

In 2020, while talking about humans in times of catastrophe and crisis, the philosopher Bayo Akomolafe stated "The machine is tired and exhausted”. What are the results of over-exploitation on the bodies of art workers (and especially those working in live arts) in the capitalist world? During the past few years many thinkers have turned their ecological concerns into reflecting on de-growth. Changing the internal rhythm of the human body is the first and quite demanding step. How do we live this over-exploitation? Are we aware of it? What does it mean “to slow down”? Slowing down doesn’t refer merely to the function of speed, but to awareness. It changes the experience of time. It means not accepting to be a machine, but to be present and to acknowledge the presence of others. Can we actually rest? Can resting be an active form of resistance to the sense of productivity and endless progress?

Here is a “hands-on” workshop about rest!

This workshop, the fourth in a series that started in Brussels during the Trouble festival last April, continued in Finland at the New Performance Turku Biennale in September, and went on at MIRfestival in Athens in November, addresses art workers from every field. This workshop will be dedicated to the research resistance by resting together. Please wear comfortable clothes.

Rest as resistance was conceived by Mara Anjoli Vujić, Christiana Galanopoulou, Leena Kela and Antoine Pickels. The workshop will be led by Christiana Galanopoulou, Antoine Pickels, Leena Kela.

The workshop will take place in Glej Theatre on 25th of January from 11:30 to 14:00, and will be held in English.

Applications are being accepted until January 22nd 2024 here.

Please wear comfortable clothes.

About the Artists

Christiana Galanopoulou holds a PhD in contemporary performance history following studies in art history, archaeology and curating, and she works as an independent curator. She is the founder and artistic director of MIRfestival in Athens.

Leena Kela is the founder and artistic director of the New Performance Turku Biennale. She is also a performance artist, a residency director of the Saari Residence and a doctoral candidate in artistic research.

Antoine Pickels is the founder and artistic director of the Trouble Festival in Brussels. He is also an artist, writer and professor in art schools.

The workshop is part of the festival Infinite Present, festival of performance!

Applications until 22nd January: hereeeeeeeee!