Symposium
on collaborative practices in the field of art and migration
Tuesday – Wednesday, June 28–29, 2022, 10:00 – 6:00 pm
A Gadder, Kultur - A Geschichthaus, 10, Rue de France Belvaux Luxembourg
During a series of open ateliers Weaving Futures created a space where people with different histories have built conversations beyond language. While working with textile, music and image, the ateliers were a starting point to bring people together and nourish their dreams. It offered a place to practise new ideas and to build generous communities. We believe that it’s through artistic practice that we can materialise questions that language cannot express, and make us see what the future could make possible. For some, this process contributed to other senses of belonging, for others it built new networks. In addition it brought a series of hand-made wearables from upcycled textiles, a hip-hop performance, new songs, music, dance and a short documentary.
But what actually happened during these exchanges, where can we locate what is of value and where are the challenges? How did the project voice the needs of the participants? How can we build other realities through this kind of collaborative form of making? How to avoid stereotypes and avoid reproducing problematic power inequalities; how to speak and do differently? How can we be aware of our ignorances? What role does art play in migration and participation? In short, what can we learn from these experiences and how can we do it better together in the years to come?
To unpack these questions, we weave different voices during this symposium on collaborative practices in the field of art and migration. We will hear experts from the field, share our tastes over lunch, listen to tunes and exchange thoughts through acts of making.
Introduction programme of the day by Annelys de Vet (moderator)
Annelys de Vet is a designer, educator and researcher with an interdisciplinary interest in collaborative forms of design methods. De Vet is currently a PhD candidate at ARIA, a practice-led doctoral study at Sint Lucas School of Arts and University Antwerp. She founded the masters course in design ‘Disarming Design’ at the Sandberg Instituut in Amsterdam, and is co-founder of the design platform ‘Disarming Design from Palestine’. In 2019 she made the ‘Subjective atlas of Luxembourg’ together with Casino Art Centre. Together with Yusra Amounah she developed ‘Weaving Futures’.
Welcome Simone Asselborn (mayor)
Simone Asselborn–Bintz is the mayor of the commune of Sanem since 2020, she belongs to the socialist party since 2002 and is deputy since 2020. As a former social worker, she dedicates a lot on educational, social and cultural projects.
On art and migration by Koku G. Nonoa & Luis Santiago
Koku G. Nonoa is a literary and cultural scholar with an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research interest in theatre and performance art. He is a postdoctoral researcher in German Studies at the University of Luxembourg, where he is a member of the steering committee of the Master's program “Theatre Studies and Interculturality” and a member of the consortium team of the key research area “Migration and Inclusive Societies” (MIS).
On art and migration by Koku G. Nonoa & Luis Santiago
Luis Santiago is a pedagogue, socio-cultural mediator, and has been coordinating ‘Cultur'all a.s.b.l.‘ for 10 years. Cultur'all's mission is to promote and facilitate access to all forms of culture for people who are far from it, in particular those who live in a difficult social or economic situation. They encourage the participation and contribution of all to cultural life, not only as consumers but also as actors. One of their biggest missions is the Kulturpass.
On migration and identity, by Yusra Amounah
Yusra Amounah is a Syrian civic activist, who is trying to interconnect different worlds. Her experience of forced movement between places and her passion for art and cultural diversity, enabled her to establish the Douri Association, which is a platform to connect artists, researchers, social workers and activists in the amazing mosaic of Luxembourgian societies in particular and European in general.
On social cultural work and immigration, Marinella Rinaldis
Marinella Rinaldis is social worker, and works since 2017 at the “service migrants et refugies'' of the Red Cross. She worked in different social fields, including child and youngsters care homes, citizenship and migration, and she has been engaged for over 20 years in inclusive projects and concepts.
Introduction film “A mountain of small things” by Fadi Chéquryah & Nael Nassan
Fadi Chéquryah is a Lebanese artist and a civic activist, who has been practising plastic art as a painter for more than 20 years. He worked with the Italian organisation INTERSOS and volunteered with UNHCR Lebanon as well as the Red Cross Luxembourg. Since 2019 he has cooperated with HARIKO Esch-sur-Alzette in artistic workshops for youth. He also worked as a screenwriter for TV and radio channels, such as BBC Arabic between 2016 - 2017. He studied Law in Damascus University and practised law for 3 years, before he stopped working as a lawyer to be a full time artist and screenwriter.
On time and trust, by Cliff Schmit
Cliff Schmit is responsible for the public relations and culture department of the municipality of Sanem. He has been closely involved with and a great supporter of the development of ‘Weaving Futures’.
Sound and dance workshop by Helder da Graca & Serge Kaboré
Helder Da Graca, is a certified yoga teacher since 2010, member of the FNELY and of de Yoga Therapy Institute, Paris. He is also a sound artist and world music instrumentalist. As an activist in the “Finkapé” ong , he promotes the cultural identity and social inclusion of the afro-descendent citizen in Luxembourg. Finkapé is an anti-racist, Afro-feminist and Decolonial association.
Sound and dance workshop by Helder da Graca & Serge Kaboré
Serge Daniel Kaboré is a contemporary and traditional dancer, living in Luxembourg since 2020. After his studies of public law (2013-2017) at the university Thomas Sankara and dance studies (2021) at the “Centre de Développement Chorégraphique la Termitière”, founded by Salia Sanou and Seydou Boro at Ouagadougou.
On culture and solidarity, by Franca Romeo
Franca Romeo is, since years, politically involved in the local town hall of Sanem and member of the Cultural and Equal Opportunities as Diversity Commission, to increase the cultural participation with local and sustainable projects and encourage social mixity. Since the shelter for asylum seekers was established in the municipality she regularly offers cultural and inclusive projects between locals and the newcomers.
On immigration and recognition, by Christof Müller
Christof Müller is the director of the Service Migrants et Refugies of the Red – Cross Luxembourg since 2017. He got his diploma in sociology at the faculty of economic and social sciences of Trier in 1989. Between 2003-2017, he was director of the ‘Ligue HMC cooperative s.c.’ and from 1990- 2003, adviser at the Ministry of Family for the “National Social Concept”
Weaving a house, by Julina Bezold & Samira Vogel
Julina Bezold is a German-Swiss body designer who is working in costume design, body architecture, performance (installation), and biodesign. In her work she explores the diverse connections of human and planetary consciousness. Her interest in perspectives beyond Western scientific rationalism has opened her gaze for mysticism & spirituality; Incorporating methodologies of pleasure activism, design for wellbeing, coexistence & sensitivity.
Weaving a house, by Julina Bezold & Samira Vogel
Samira Vogel is a weaver, artist and educator from Switzerland, based in Amsterdam, where she is currently pursuing a Masters at the Sandberg Instituut. She previously studied Art and Design Education at the Zurich University of the Arts and Textile Design at the Srishti Institute in Bangalore, India. She uses weaving not only as a material and carrier of stories but also as a method and a tool to think through different processes of making and being. Treating textile as both an artistic medium and a space of communication, Samira explores the nature of collectivity by creating interactive weaving installations.
The symposium was organised by Douri Asbl & University of Luxembourg, in collaboration with Sandberg Instituut, Disarming Design & Antwerp Research Institute for the Arts (Yusra Amounah & Koku G. Nonoa & Marinella Rinaldis & Annelys de Vet). Weaving Futures, is a project by Annelys de Vet & Yusra Amounah (Douri asbl), in the framework of the programme loop - down the hills, across the land curated by Anna Loporcaro, produced by the municipality of Sanem for Esch2022 - European Capital of Culture.
Weaving Futures Festival, june 2022
