Performing Mourning

On the occasion of his new book, Performing Mourning, Laments in Contemporary Art, the Vienna-based dance dramaturg Guy Cools will discuss contemporary art practices in literature, visual and performing arts that use mourning as a source for activism. Using the tradition of the Greek “moiroloi” (laments) as a template, Cools will discuss how many artistic expressions can be considered contemporary laments. Referencing Judith Butler’s notion of “equal grievability”, Cools will focus on a younger generation of artists who are dealing with “climate grief” or forms of state violence and lament their future.