13504
Seminar
Contemporary Art in Europe’s Semi-Periphery
Eric de Bruyn
Comments
A decolonization of art history requires that we trouble prior, historiographical concepts of center versus periphery, rather than perpetuating notions of the “derivative” or “delayed” character of artistic practice outside of the so-called capitals of modern art, such as Paris or New York. This seminar will discuss the challenges of developing a transcultural or “horizontal” history of art, which privileges neither a universal or regional, cosmopolitan or national perspective. To this purpose, we will focus on so-called semi-peripheral positions within European art. The semi-periphery, according to world-systems theory, occupies an intermediate position between the core and the periphery, retaining characteristics of both, which in terms of the Western system of art could be applied to the areas of Scandinavia, Italy, Eastern Europe, but also the Maghreb during the (post-) Cold War period. The seminar will begin with a discussion of post-war “provincialization” of Paris due to a perceived shift of the “center” of artistic production to New York and the subsequent “Americanization” of contemporary art. Subsequently, we will discuss, for instance, how Scandinavian (e.g. CoBrA), Italian, Eastern European or Lebanese artists established a complex set of transcultural exchanges, which often by-passed or deliberately countered the main “centers” of art without resorting to a strictly nativist or regionalist conception of art. close
16 Class schedule
Regular appointments
Wed, 2025-10-15 10:00 - 12:00
Wed, 2025-10-22 10:00 - 12:00
Wed, 2025-10-29 10:00 - 12:00
Wed, 2025-11-05 10:00 - 12:00
Wed, 2025-11-12 10:00 - 12:00
Wed, 2025-11-19 10:00 - 12:00
Wed, 2025-11-26 10:00 - 12:00
Wed, 2025-12-03 10:00 - 12:00
Wed, 2025-12-10 10:00 - 12:00
Wed, 2025-12-17 10:00 - 12:00
Wed, 2026-01-07 10:00 - 12:00
Wed, 2026-01-14 10:00 - 12:00
Wed, 2026-01-21 10:00 - 12:00
Wed, 2026-01-28 10:00 - 12:00
Wed, 2026-02-04 10:00 - 12:00
Wed, 2026-02-11 10:00 - 12:00