Lygia Clark: Artistic Practice in Transcultural Contexts

On the occasion of the first retrospective of Lygia Clark (1920–1988) in Germany at the Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin, a two-day academic symposium will take place on October 1st and 2nd, 2025. The symposium will explore Clark’s artistic practice and its resonance in art history, theory, pedagogy, psychiatry, and contemporary art.

Lygia Clark is regarded as a radical innovator of art. She fundamentally redefined the relationship between artist and viewer, artwork and space. Lygia Clark's approach – understanding art as a participatory, sensorial, sometimes even healing experience – establishes her as one of the most internationally important artists of the second half of the 20th century. Despite her impact as a central figure in participatory and sensory art, Clark remains largely unknown to the general public in Germany. In 16 scholarly and artistic contributions, the speakers will address different aspects of Lygia Clark’s work within a transcultural context, organized into three panels. The first panel examines Clark’s art in the context of international artistic developments of her time. The second panel highlights the political dimensions of Clark’s artistic contributions from the 1960s and 1970s, particularly her so-called “Propositions” as well as her last work “Structuring the Self”. The third panel deals with Lygia Clark’s work in the context of feminist debates.

Despite her impact as a key figure of participatory and sensorial art, Clark remains largely unknown to the general public in Germany. This symposium aims to intensify scholarly attention on her oeuvre, further situate her work within global modernisms, and critically engage with its enduring transcultural relevance.

International experts at the symposium are:  Michael Asbury, Lydie Delahaye, Lara Demori, Angela Donini, Daniel Patric Horn, Alexandra Karentzos, Daniela Labra, Tania Regina de Luca, Marlon Miguel, Delphine Paul, Tania Rivera, Mona Schieren, Irene V. Small, Ursula Ströbele, Oscar Svanelid, Thotti, Jordan Troeller.

The conference is a cooperation of  Neuen Nationalgalerie, Hochschule für Künste Bremen, Ibero-Amerikanischen Institut, Berlin.

Concept and Organization: 

• Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin (Dr. Irina Hiebert Grun, Dr. Maike Steinkamp)
• Hochschule für Künste Bremen (Prof. Dr. Mona Schieren)
• Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut, Berlin (Dr. Ricarda Musser)

The Conference is supported by the  Fritz Thyssen Stiftung.

Cooperation Partners: 

• Forschungsgruppe Kunstproduktion und Kunsttheorie im Zeichen globaler Migration im Ulmer Verein für Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften e.V.
• Carl-Justi-Vereinigung e.V.

The conference language is English.

The symposium is open to the public. Participation is free of charge.