How does art shape and influence social memory? Can freedom of expression be reconciled with societal norms and social sensitivity? What role do museums play in shaping memory policies and fostering social dialogues? These are the questions our invited speakers will explore at the upcoming Transylvania Lectures event.
Agnieszka Kolek is an artist, curator, and co-founder of the Passion for Freedom London Art Festival. She is also the Head of Cultural Engagement in Brussels and has served as the Deputy Director at the Ujazdowski Castle, Centre for Contemporary Art, in Warsaw.
By supporting those whose art exhibitions are prohibited, she provides a platform for artistic voices that were previously silenced and challenges individuals who opt for the "safe path". Her work focuses on the in-depth analysis of human relationships and the exploration of their complexities. While examining the relationships of individuals at a microscopic level, she widens her perspective by adressing topics such as society's response to political events. She also pays special attention to understanding the phenomenon of "willful blindness". In 2013, Agnieszka was awarded the title of "Polish Woman of the Year'' in the United Kingdom. The following year, she received the Gold Cross of Merit from the President of the Republic of Poland.
Her partner in conversation at the event will be Mara-Victoria Raţiu. She holds the position of Associate Professor in the Theory Department at the University of Art and Design in Cluj-Napoca. Additionally, she serves on the Representative Board of ELIA (European League of Institutes of the Arts) and is a member of the Scientific Board of MNAC (National Museum of Contemporary Art in Bucharest). Her main research interests are in aesthetics, contemporary artistic practices and institutions and their socio-political implications.
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