Invitation to the Defense of Lisa Nyberg

The Examination Panel is made up of: Mag. Dr. Moira Hille (chair), Univ.-Prof. Dr. Renate Lorenz (1st supervisor), Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Anette Baldauf (2nd supervisor), and Prof. Dr. María do Mar Castro Varela (external appraiser, ASH Berlin).

This PhD project starts from the question: how can we study for a future unknown? In light of anthropogenic climate change, a global environmental crisis, and its destabilizing impact on social and economic systems, there is an urgency to examine how we relate to the future in our pedagogy; how we anticipate, imagine and prepare through our teaching and our studies. In the search of pedagogies that are open to not knowing – to contingency, unpredictability and change – the question arises: what could a pedagogy look like that supports our studies with and for the unknown?

At the basis of this research is a teaching practice; the classroom of aesthetic education at the intersection of study, creative work and the institution. From this base a performance practice has developed that draws from lecture performance and meditation as a quotidian and creative practice, to create a series of guided meditations. These are presented as art installations, as sound pieces and as activities in the classroom. The guided meditations propose an experiment in how to address the contradiction of learning for the future, by focusing, intently, on the present.

This project attempts to interrupt the linearity of critical consciousness theory by displacing Paulo Freire's concept conscientização, or critical consciousness, from its place at the pinnacle of a linear telling of empowerment, to a place where it is intersecting with other forms of consciousness. Simultaneously, the project raises a critique of Western constructs of utopia as the dominant form of imagining otherwise, by looking to feminist and de-colonial theory that resist utopian fatalism and claims to universality. The aim is to make a critical shift from utopia towards a constantly changing and undetermined future – the unknown.

Lisa Nyberg is a visual artist based in Malmö, Sweden. She explores the radical possibilities of pedagogy and performance through processes that involve collective, embodied, transgressive and critical practices. In her work, she examines cultural and educational canons from an intersectional feminist perspective. This means creating situations and structures where learning can take place, as well as intervening in existing structures and institutions. Nyberg’s work takes the form of self-organized spaces, institutional processes, workshops, performances, installations, books and sound pieces.

Nyberg was one of the founders of Malmö Free University for Women (2006- 2011) and the think tank on Radical Pedagogy (2011-2014), as well as the network X-front (2007-2010). Since 2015 she is part of UNICORN – artists in solidarity, an organization that explores forms of solidarity between artists through the sharing of food, experiences, knowledge and by organizing a residency for artists at risk. In 2016-2017 Nyberg was the head teacher and coordinator of Malmö Konstverkstad, and in 2019-2020 she was Head of Studies for The School of Conceptual and Contextual Practices at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

Lisa Nyberg’s work has been exhibited at Kunsthal Aarhus, the Research Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, Konsthall C (Stockholm), Trondheim Art Biennial, Signal – Center for Contemporary Art (Malmö), Röda Sten (Gothenburg), Den Frie Udstillingsbygning (Copenhagen), Dunkers Kulturhus (Helsingborg), Liljevalchs Konsthall (Stockholm), Gothenburg Art Museum, Rooseum (Malmö) among others. She has been awarded two working grants from the Swedish Arts Grants Committee as well as the Malmö City Grant for Artistic Development. Nyberg teaches regularly at art academies in the Nordic countries, such as The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, The Danish National School of Performing Arts, Konstfack, Valand Art Academy, Malmö University and others.

Please join us for the defense. The event will take place online.

Zoom Meeting Link: https://akbild-ac-at.zoom.us/j/99513080967?pwd=bDYvN1U1WjRVVmZjU2E1RzdqZXhLZz09
Zoom-Meeting-ID: 995 1308 0967
Passcode: ?9^?3*

Please arrive until five minutes in advance. You will find yourself in the waiting room and will only be admitted if you arrive before the defense starts.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the defense.