Three artistic research institutions have each been invited to curate an afternoon of reflection during this year’s Kunstenfestivaldesarts. DasArts kicks off the series during the opening weekend on Saturday 9 May. In the company of artists, thinkers and the audience, this afternoon will feature plenary moments, smaller group discussions and an artistic work as a farewell.

When we attend a performance, what is our position, our place in that event? In the contemporary performing arts, the experience of being a spectator is increasingly shifting to the role of a witness, a contributor or participant. In some cases, aspects of these different modes of engagement are combined or superposed within the same artwork. In other cases, the work of art nearly dissolves within the participatory practices.

Verifying Alien Entities Together
Entitled Verifying Alien Entities Together: Old and New Ways of Engaging with Performing Arts, the programme addresses these different roles by theoretically exploring them and by scrutinizing their agency within the practices of various artists. What new realities of spectating are produced? How do contemporary performance practices strengthen the critical function of art or propose prototypes for alternatives?

With contributions by Liesbeth Groot Nibbelink (NL), Jan Lauwers (BE), Joe Kelleher (UK), Mala Kline (SLO), Arkadi Zaides (ISR), Dries Verhoeven (NL), Myriam Van Imschoot (B), Andrea Bozic (CRO/NL) and Julia Willms (DE).

The DasArts staff and participants will be attending the reflection afternoon. If you’d like to join, you are very welcome. Please go to the website of kunstenfestivaldesarts.be for more detailed information about the programme and booking.