Stuttgart, February 3-04, 2011

Universalism, a mode to claim particular views and rules from one
culture valid all over the world, has been widely criticized as
disguised eurocentrism. Recent concepts have outlined alternative
universalisms. Historically, in european as well as in non-european
cultures, artists, art movements and artistical concepts have held in
common an idea of universalism which has been carrying notions of
humanism and political liberation since the declaration of human rights.

Today a multiplied global art market and cultural exchange in
literature and theatre put questions of universalism into different
perspective. What guiding spirit could be behind the idea of
universalisms, in the plural, for art, curating and theatre today? Is
it empowering for art to invoke the idea of universalism in order to
transcend its perception as local – to speak forcefully in a universal
language and claim its critical, or even, utopian potential? May
internal paradoxes of universalim be dissolved in newly conceived
concepts of transnationalism or cosmopolitanism?

International artists, curators and scholars will discuss these
questions with regard to history, theory and current artistic practice
with focus on the production and distribution of art from African
cultures.

Dealing with the Universal – between history, theory and practice of
arts

Universalismen verhandeln – zwischen Geschichte, Theorie und Praxis der
Künste

Hier finden Sie den Flyer zur Veranstaltung.