In the current state of political and ecological dystopia, how do we avoid what Donna Haraway aptly called melancholia and techno-fixes? How do we stay with the trouble? How do we work our way through the darkness? Artists are known for their ability to be trouble; thus, we will interview one of them, David Liver, about the trouble and his own ways to stay with it. We plan to discuss the strategies of staying with the trouble together, and then we will move towards Haraway’s more specific takes on troubles of the Chthulucene. We will end this Coronaseminar session with another discussion – now concerning the role of art and art institutions in these troublesome times, when the pandemic is one of many troubles we need to stay with.

David Liver is known for his dematerialized art, and for his obscure imagery where he employs satire, gonzo-style autobiography, and black humor. Voice Over is his latest work, an online artist-run review published by the Council of Europe and KANAL – CENTRE POMPIDOU in Brussels. Liver is writing, producing, and directing with Urubu Films. His current film project is “Tuli Tuli Tuli, 1001 ways of being joyfully revolted,” a doc film about Beat hero and Fug Tuli Kupferberg, directed in collaboration with Canadian director Thomas Burstyn.
http://www.the-david-liver.com

Text:
Donna Haraway, a Conversation about the book „Staying with the Trouble”, in: Artforum, 2016
https://www.artforum.com/interviews/donna-j-haraway-speaks-about-her-latest-book-63147

Ewa Majewska
Coronaseminar #4. How do we stay with the trouble?
Online-Zoom, 6–8pm CET (in English)
With: David Liver, artist
Participation link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86307280916?pwd=RG9hUTdDbmYvUzhPY3E2M2RPWFpaZz09
Meeting ID: 863 0728 0916
ID Code: 940123