LECTURE SERIES 2022 SPRING
DESIGN AS DISSENT
Tuesday March 8, 5 p.m.
Peter Vetter: Aesthetics of dissent
The medium "poster" is particularly suitable as a carrier of critical opinions. Historically, there are many examples, and based on a selection, I would like to examine alternative visual strategies used to convey dissent.
Tuesday March 15, 5 p.m.
Naji El Mir: To speak or not to speak
In a world where graphic design is intrinsically linked to capitalism, some designers chose to resist to this reality by undertaking alternative streams seeking an ideal economical model and an island of peace to their visual expression. Some of these streams are more radical, such as working on social and political advocacy wether in groups or on a personal initiative. As Arab designers living in the West, we might find ourselves at ease to speak up freely and to strike visually on some social injustices and political conflicts. But this comes at a cost, the fear of risks of retaliations and consequences that might affect your daily life and career. In this lecture, I’ll share my experience as a designer that diligently tried to escape the system, designing for advocacy groups, and dealing with inner and outer conflicts such as self-censorship, exile, fear and anger.
Tuesday March 29, 5 p.m.
Danielle Rosales and Robin Coenen: Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Critical Mapping
This talk gives an introduction at how visual experts can operate with open source data and use visual strategies in order to dissent hegemonic narratives in various spaces.
Tuesday April 5, 4 p.m.
Ghalia Elsrakbi: Foundland Collective
Foundland Collective was formed in 2009 by South African Lauren Alexander and Syrian Ghalia Elsrakbi and since 2014 is based between Amsterdam and Cairo. The duo collaboration explores under represented political and historical narratives by working with archives via art, design, writing, educational formats, video making and storytelling. Throughout their development, the duo has critically reflected upon what it means to produce politically engaged work from the position of non-Western artists working between Europe and the Middle East.
Tuesday April 12, 4 p.m.
Anna-Brigitte Schlittler and Sophia Prinz: Fashioning Dissent
In the history of fashion, there is a long and tradition of expressing opposition and rebellion by the means of clothing. The lecture approaches this complex and extensive topic from two sides: The first part gives a general theoretical overview of the interdependence between governmentality, bodily performativity and (fashion) design. The second part focuses on extravagance, sumptuousness and flamboyance as a vestimentary strategy against enforced invisibility, rigid moral systems and (bio)political interventions. The arc will span from the French post-revolutionary Incroyables and Merveilleuses to the American Zoot Suiters and their dedicated Viennese followers to the Congolese Sapeurs and some aspects of queer ballroom culture.
Tuesday April 19, 4 p.m.
Farah Fayyad: The ability of design to respond to political contexts
The talk addresses the ability of design to respond to political contexts, and the role time plays in shifting the definitions and boundaries of art, activism, personal engagement, and self-criticism. I will show a short documentary film that chronicles a screen-printing intervention done in collaboration with Siwar Kraytem at the early stages of the Lebanese uprising in 2019, how we were during the event and how we think about it more than two years later.