A Vibrant Death Reading Group
On Friday 27 September 2024 15:00–17:00 with flora valeska woudstra, artist, writer and death care worker (NL) & Thursday 07 November 2024 15:00–17:00 with Anna Arov, writer, death doula and educator, KABK Royal Academy of Art (The Hague) Art-Science Lab in Heksenstraat 8, Maastricht
How do we read together a book about death and mourning?
In the reading group, we read excerpts from the book ‘Vibrant Death. A Posthuman Phenomenology of Mourning’ (Bloomsbury 2022) by Nina Lykke (Distinguished Professor, Gender Studies, Linköping University). The book journeys Lykke’s experience of losing her queer life partner to cancerdeath, and exploring mourning as a practice to connect and be with her beloved deceased in new forms— whether through their memories, material remains, or ghostly manifestations in dreams and the environment.
Each time, a guest joins the group and supports the experience of reading and listening with their expertise and practices. On September 27th, flora valeska woudstra will accompany the reading by offering an exercise that explores the reception of the text through different body parts. A series of soft sculptures by artist Maike Hemmers are featured in the space to enhance reading comfort.
More info will be available about the last session with Anna Aron in November.
Image: body as two – rest note (flora valeska woudstra)
Attendance is free, English language. No preparation needed; the texts will be shared during each session in a Reader distributed to the participants. The group is convened by Valentina Curandi (artist, Ph.D. MERIAN candidate). Registration is not mandatory, but a copy of the Reader can be reserved for the session by emailing valentina.curandi@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
The Art-Science Lab of University College Maastricht (UCM) in Heksenstraat 8, Maastricht is located on the ground floor, entrance via a paved path in the garden. Gender neutral and accessible restrooms available on the floor.
This is an initiative supported by Universiteitsfonds Limburg SWOL and MERIAN Maastricht Experimental Research In and through the Arts Network.
