Artists Changing the World features inspiring keynotes panels with artists of diverse backgrounds coming from all over the world. We feature inspiring speakers who can address several topics related to their region and context they work in and to hear from them how/if art can generate positive change in the world and can be spaces of resistance. It gives an in-depth insight into the social, economic, political context of the region the artists are active in.
This 'Artists Changing the World' session was part of our Atelier for Solidarity which was organised online from June 14 to June 20, 2020. The session took place on Monday, June 15 at 4 pm (CEST/Brussels Time).
Hank Willis Thomas, a conceptual artist from the USA mainly working around identity, history and popular culture, gave a keynote lecture on issues of continued racism and inequality, decolonization and equity and talked about his artwork 'Unity'. The speech was framed in the context at that time and the solidarity movements in the USA and around the world against racially motivated violence. His work ‘Unity’ in New York has become a gathering place for protest and action during the Black Lives Matter protests.
The full keynote can be watched here.