A Vibrant Death Reading Group
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 of University College Maastricht (UCM) 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 chronicles Lykke’s experience of losing her queer life partner to cancer and explores mourning as a connective practice between the living and the dead.
For the final fourth session of the reading group, Anna Arov—writer, death doula, and educator (KABK)—will accompany the reading by offering writing exercises as prompts to reflect on personal mourning and grief. These exercises are intended for personal reflection and can be done in any language, style, or format, without the need to share them with others.
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.
A series of soft sculptures by artist Maike Hemmers are featured in the space to enhance reading comfort.
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 are on the floor.
This is an initiative supported by Universiteitsfonds Limburg SWOL and MERIAN Maastricht Experimental Research In and through the Arts Network.