This symposium, organized by both museums, brings together artists, curators, students, and the public to explore the enduring relevance of Magdalena Abakanowicz's work. Central to this will be both Abakanowicz's pioneering vision and practice and the relationship between art, politics, ecology, and architecture, placing Abakanowicz's work in a broader contemporary artistic and social dialogue. The common denominator for the symposium is “Bois le Duc”. This artwork, the largest ever created by Abakanowicz and hanging in the Provinciehuis of North Brabant, interweaves the different stories of the exhibitions and serves as a conceptual springboard for the symposium's three core themes: fiber, architecture, and ecology.
Plan your visit:
Theme 1: “Fibers”. This theme explores fiber as a source of innovation in art, both in form and socio-political context.
Theme 2: “Ecology / Human-Nature”. This theme explores the intricate connection between Magdalena Abakanowicz's oeuvre and her profound insights into human nature, which extend into contemporary post-human discourse.
Theme 3: “Art and architecture / Art and space”. This theme explores the impact of Abakanowicz's art on the perception of architecture and the understanding of space.
Program
| 10.30 a.m. | Walk-in and reception at the Province House with coffee/tea/sweets |
| 11.00 a.m. | Welcome by Jacqueline Grandjean, director of The Noordbrabants Museum, and Nathanja van Dijk, head of the TextielMuseum. |
| 11.10 a.m. | Archive-presentation introducing Magdalena Abakanowicz by Marta Kowalewska (Marta Magdalena Abakanowicz-Kosmowska and Jan Kosmowski Foundation, Warschau). |
| 11.20 a.m. | Keynote on the theme “Fiber” by Ann Coxon, curator/writer/researcher |
| 11.45 a.m. | Keynote on the theme “Ecology / Human-Nature” by Ewa Majewska, Associate Professor at SWPS University in Warsaw |
| 12.10 a.m. | Keynote on the theme “Art and Architecture / Art and Space” by Tomasz Fudala, curator of the Muzeum Sztuki Nowoczesnej in Warsaw |
| 12.35 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1.15 p.m. | Film screening ‘Echa’, a film produced by artists Kristina Benjocki and Stijn Verhoef, produced by Het Noordbrabants Museum and supported by Abakanowicz Arts and Culture Charitable Foundation, on the work and life of Magdalena Abakanowicz. The screening is followed by a brief commentary by Kristina Benjocki |
| 1:30 p.m. | Time to wander through the building, guides will be lined up on several spots, highlighting the collection of artworks. The ‘Provinciehuis’, on the outskirts of 's-Hertogenbosch, opened in 1971, as the main seat of Brabants administration. Architecturally a clear child of its time, the brutalist building designed by Hugh Maaskant (1907-1977) houses many fascinating works of art |
| 2.30 p.m. | Mashup time: with moderators all keynote speakers and panellists. First a brief introduction to the three panellists. They challenge the keynote speakers with several questions. This is followed by a discussion in which the audience in the room can also actively participate. Keynotes: 1. Ann Coxon, 2. Ewa Majewska, 3. Tomasz Fudala Panelist Ad 1 Nadeche Remst (editor-in-chief for Metropolis M., writer, art historian and critic. Panelist Ad 2 Zuzanna Grzeszek (Abakanowicz Arts and Culture Charitable Foundation) Panelist Ad. 3 pending |
| 3:40 p.m. | Closure by the moderators |
| 4:45 p.m. | End of the program with drinks and bites. |