Entanglements: The Politics of Aesthetics and Retelling of Modernisms and Modern Art
Within the conference’s scope, we examine the foundational concepts of modernity through the theoretical perspectives of postcolonial theory and decolonial thinking. These viewpoints are dedicated to uncovering the imperialist and colonialist implications ingrained in Western notions of modernity. As Walter Mignolo aptly stated, "there cannot be modernity without coloniality."1 Decolonial thinking views modernity not as a concrete entity or historical epoch but as a collection of self-referential narratives intertwined with ideas of modernization and development. Modernity was constructed as an idealized version of itself and of a global landscape where modernization and development were seen as the driving forces. It symbolized a future horizon towards which all inhabitants of the planet were believed to be progressing.
The reimagining of modernity and its inherent epistemic violence has significantly impacted the history and historiography of modern art in recent years. A paradigm shift in art history has led to a reconfiguration of global modernisms by highlighting contact zones, networks, and transcultural flows of artistic expression beyond Eurocentric constraints.
By employing the concept of entanglements, our research situates artistic expression within its social and political context through a contextual approach to art history and a critique of formalism. By embracing entanglements as a guiding principle, we highlight relationality by exploring how diverse local histories can transcend geopolitical boundaries and colonial disparities while also contesting the totalizing claims and epistemic violence inherent in modernity.
With the kind support of:
University of Graz, International Relations Office, PostDoc Office
Austrian Research Association
Federal Ministry Republic of Austria, Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sport
City of Graz, Major Elke Kahr
Governor of Styria, Mag. Christopher Drexler
1 Walter Mignolo/Catherine Walsh, On Decoloniality: Concepts Analytics and Praxis. Durham, 2018, p. 109.