Detour for an audience, two disco balls, two curtains, rear windows, a physiotherapist, a psychiatrist and a dressing table – IF I CAN’T DANCE (2024)

Through this programme, a range of invited artists explore how feminist thinking on all levels (social, artistic, political, theoretical, ideological or structural) may be important to contemporary cultural life.

Judith Hopf takes on the legacy of Dan Graham’s ‘Performance, Audience, Mirror’performed in De Appel in 1977. Interested in how the protagonist might be re-read, Hopfpositions herself as the seer and interpreter of detail in Graham’s place. Designer Will Holderand artist Sarah Pierce each perform in relation to two iconic artists of the 20th century in anattempt to recuperate or critique each figure and the work itself on its own terms, rather thanaccepting how they were critically read in the past as women rather than artists. HaegueYang’s performance muses on the pragmatics of transporting and exhibiting art and asks howthis ‘work’ might be valued. Meanwhile, Maria Pask investigates the nuts and bolts ofprocreation in a performance with Esther de Vlam, exploring questions of reproduction andtheir position in classical feminist discourse. The weekend concludes with a concertperformance by musician planningtorock. Selecting and hybridizing elements from thedandy, the cyborg, and the modernist hero, the artist presents us with a portrait of thefabulous and unflappable 21st century woman.

Symposium I: Saturday 18 November 2006, 10–23hr

Symposium II: Thursday7 December 2006, 19–22.30

Symposium I

Global Feminisms

The symposium articulates and expands upon concerns surrounding legacies and potentials offeminism in contemporary art practice. The contributions are all loosely centered aroundthe necessity to nuance and question the apparent linear trajectory offeminism often described as generation or ‘waves’ (particularly in the European context). Theprogramme includes a lecture focusing on an inclusive approach to theproduction of feminist theory, and a lecture of feminist legacies in relation to contemporaryart and curating in the context of globalization. Also, in a variety of presentational formats,several artists and a curator investigate influences and reverberations of the recent past inrelation to their own practice.

With Karl Holmqvist, Aneta Szylak, Sue Tompkins, Iris van der Tuin, Helena Reckitt, Daria Martin, Frédérique Bergholtz and Annie Fletcher

Symposium II

Curating and Feminism Today

The second symposium aims to shed light on the question of why so many curators havecurrently developed an interest in the legacies of feminism. The guest speakers have beeninvited to present their current projects and to share their thoughts and knowledge on thenotion of feminist strategies in curating.

With Heike Munder, Bettina Steinbrügge, Mirjam van Westen (Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem),Frédérique Bergholtz, Ann Demeester (de Appel arts centre), Katja Kobolt & Dunja Kukovec (City of Women)

Acknowledgements

De Balie

Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10

1017 RR Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Stedelijk Museum CS

Oosterdokskade 5

1011AB Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Thursday 16 November 2006 – Sunday 7 January 2007

This episode revolves around an exhibition at de Appel and includes a performance programme, two symposia, and an insert by The Otolith Group in the exhibition ‘Just in Time’ at the Stedelijk Museum CS.

The exhibition seeks to articulate a historical context for the legacy of feminist thinking and the way it manifests itself in the materiality and language of visual art. Established in 1975, de Appel has a rich history of showing experimental art over the last thirty years and a continued interest in its programming now. Archival documentation exploring feminist legacies from the late 70s and 80s is presented alongside the exhibition, including the likes of Carolee Schneemann, Moniek Toebosch, Martha Wilson, Gina Pane, and Joan Jonas. These practices provide an interesting comparison to the vernacular used by artists today to think through ideas of agency, singularity, and political empowerment.

The exhibition includes works by Bless, Kate Davis, Pascale Gatzen & Myrza de Mynck, Karl Holmqvist, Jutta Koether, Claudia & Julia Müller, Isabel Nolan, Paulina Olowksa, Falke Pisano, Stefanie Seibold, Lucy Skaer, Frances Stark, Lily van der Stokker, Sue Tompkins, Haegue Yang, and Stefanie Seibold (archive).

A performance by Alexandra Bachzetsis and Lies Vanborm tales place on 16 November at Zonnehuis in Amsterdam.

Intervention in exhibitionJust in Time

Friday 1 December 2006 – Sunday 11 March 2007

Stedelijk Museum CS, Amsterdam

With The Otolith Group, Stefanie Seibold (De Appel archive)

Film and Performance Programme:The Fantasy of Failed Utopias and a Girls Daydream

Thursday 21 December 2006, 20–late

Stedelijk Museum CS at Club 11, Amsterdam

Curated by Susanne Winterling on the occasion of the launch of the fourth issue of GLU magazine

With Emily Royson (Every Ocean Hughes), Marriage, E.E. Cassidy, Erika Vogt, Kat Ross, Kaucyila Brook, Margo Victor, Lynn Chan, Eve Fowler, planningtorock, Djuna Barnes.

Programme booklet

Programme Venues

De Appel arts centre

Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 10

1074 VM Amsterdam

The Netherlands

De Balie

Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10

1017 RR Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Stedelijk Museum CS

Oosterdokskade 5

1011AB Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Club 11

Oosterdokskade 3-5

1011AB Amsterdam

The Netherlands