The New Subject

The interdisciplinary project “The New Subject” addresses the political discourse surrounding the body. For this project, KINDL – Centre for Contemporary Art has teamed up with the curatorial collective TOK (Netherlands/UK), the Konsthall C (Stockholm, Sweden), Kunsthal Nord (Aalborg, Denmark) and the gallery Oksasenkatu 11 (Helsinki, Finland). The jointly developed exhibition views the body as politically contested terrain and draws links to global biopolitics and technological progress. The curators also reflect on contexts and local challenges specific to each of the four exhibition venues. An accompanying symposium at KINDL highlighting the adaptability of bodies in neoliberalism will take place during the Berlin Art Week.

“The New Subject” probes the power dynamics, to which bodies are subjected. For example, how does government exert influence by restricting reproductive rights? To what extent do wars or pandemics influence our attitude toward bodily integrity? What would a more equitable world look like where all bodies were respected? The exhibition brings together art works and VR experiences which explore such topics as femininity, loss of identity and mortality in various formats. Some of the pieces are positioned at the interface of art, technology and sociology and envision, for example, the future of reproduction with artificial uteri. The public is invited to critically reflect on the effects of new technologies, e.g. AI and genetic engineering, on our physical and emotional well-being.

The exhibition will be supplemented by an accompanying catalogue and a film. Virtual tours and livestreamed discussion formats will facilitate access from anywhere at any time.

Artistic director: Anna Bitkina, Maria Veits
Artists: Saodat Ismailova, Flo Kasearu, Ajla R. Steinvåg, Albina Mokhryakova, Kyuri Jeon, Björn Larsson and Carl Johan Erikson, Adina Pintilie, Sarah Browne, Yevgeniy Fiks, Tore Hallas, Saemundur Thor Helgason and others
Symposium participants: Dr Ana Antic, Cosmin Costinas, Ulrika Flink, Orlan Ohtonen, Joanne Rosenthal and others
Exhibition opening, Berlin (KINDL – Centre for Contemporary Art): 14 Sep. 2024
Exhibition; Berlin (KINDL – Centre for Contemporary Art): 15 Sep. 2024 – 23 Feb. 2025 
Symposium, Berlin (KINDL – Centre for Contemporary Art): 2024