Biennial Symposium: “Decoding the Habitual”

Gareth Kennedy. NCAD FIELD

Location: Kai Art Center (Peetri 12, Tallinn) & online (YouTube: TallinnPhotomonth)
Time: 15:00–18:00
Ticket information: free entrance 
Accessible by wheelchair
kai.center

Find HERE the full programme of the symposium.

The symposium of the 6th Tallinn Photomonth expands the conceptual framework of the main biennial exhibition “Intensive Places” (Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia, EKKM). It builds up a set of propositions to stimulate our political imagination in order to divert the reproduction of current societal modes of living towards enhanced self-governance and more caring and empathic coexistence. Such a transformation firstly requires the analysis of biotechnological, economic and social strategies of governmental and corporate control so deeply and seamlessly embedded in our everyday reality that they become internalized and invisible without deliberate investigation. The symposium will concentrate on strategies and tactics of decoding and disclosing the policing mechanisms incorporated into the social system, including education, architecture, design and urban planning, digital etiquette and communication, environmental policies and more. Drawing from the concept of intensive places and analysing various spaces that represent the ‘society of control’ the Symposium speakers will look more closely into how our minds and bodies are governed by invisible suppressive structures for developing analytical spatial, digital and infrastructural literacy and awareness to work towards a more sustainable, happier and meaningful future.

Curated by The Creative Association of Curators TOK / Anna Bitkina and Maria Veits
Speakers: Jasmina Cibic, Tanja Engelberts, Aziza Kadyri, Gareth Kennedy, Daniel McCarthy Clifford, Ingel Vaikla

Participation in the symposium is free of charge and includes a visit to the exhibition of Gabriele Beveridge & Marge Monko “Great Pretender” also included in the Satellite Programme of Tallinn Photomonth.

The symposium will be live streamed on Tallinn Photomonth’s Facebook page: Tallinn Photomonth / @Fotokuu.

For joining the conversation with the speakers via Zoom please register in advance:
DAY 1, Oct 15
DAY 2, Oct 16

SCHEDULE, Oct 15–16:

DAY 1, October 15: “Statecraft Technologies”
15.00 – 15.10 Welcome words by the directors of the 6th Tallinn Photomonth Kulla Laas and Merilin Talumaa and representatives of Kai
15.10 – 15.20 Introduction words by TOK about the theme of the symposium, its connection to the exhibition “Intensive Places”, about speakers, overall schedule and the format of the 2-day event
15.20 – 16.00 Jasmina Cibic, “Let Concrete Thoughts Freely Pour” 
16.00 – 16.40 Ingel Vaikla, “On Second Hand Memories” (presentation includes a video screening of Ingel’s work “Double Exposure”, 13 min)
16.40 – 17.00 Break
17.00 – 17.40 Daniel McCarthy Clifford, “Dumbing-Down the Americans via prisons and public schools”
17.40 – 18.00 Q&A and wrap-up of the session 

DAY 2, October 16: “Spatial and Bodily Literacy and Practices of Freedom”
15.00 – 15.10 Introduction words by TOK about the speakers and schedule of the 2nd day of the symposium
15.10 – 15.50 Gareth Kennedy, “FIELD work: Evolving Naturecultures in Inner city Dublin”
15.50 – 16.30 Tanja Engelberts, “Exploring the ‘Hollow’: Hidden Structures of Artificial Natural and Industrial Landscape”
16.30 – 16.50 Break
16.50 – 17.30 Aziza Kadyri, “Body-Gap-Garment-Gap-Room”
17.30 – 18.00 Open discussion, Q&A

The symposium will take place in English.

We kindly ask all symposium participants at Kai Art Center to present a COVID-19 certificate (proof of vaccination, of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 180 days, or proof of a recent negative test) and your ID. There is no rapid testing on-site. The certificate can be presented on your smart phone or as a print-out.

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