[spectre] CFP: The Postcolonial Sacred in East-Central Europe (online/Wroclaw, 20-21 Jun 24)

[Andreas Broeckmann LEU]

From: Anna Markowska
Date: Feb 15, 2024
Subject: CFP: The Postcolonial Sacred in East-Central Europe 
(online/Wroclaw, 20-21 Jun 24)

Online / University of Wroclaw, Poland, Jun 20–21, 2024
Deadline: Apr 7, 2024

The Postcolonial Sacred in East-Central Europe after 1989: New 
Approaches to Spirituality in Old and Contemporary Art.

With the fall of the Iron Curtain and the dissolution of the USSR, 
East-Central Europe entered a period of transition. During this time, 
contemporary art faced substantial criticism from numerous politicians 
and conservative media outlets for addressing issues related to 
morality, sexuality, and religiosity. Interestingly, many young artists 
sought spirituality outside the confines of the institutional Church, 
which swiftly gained prominence in areas previously dominated by 
state-decreed atheism. A pursuit that has been largely overlooked in the 
art history literature of that era.
In the current art landscape, numerous artists are forming collectives 
by drawing upon elements of transcendence, ancient deities, intuition, 
and various phantasms or anachronisms. This is part of their journey to 
create new rituals that foster mutual bonds. Current endeavors are 
focused on promoting inclusivity and nurturing respect for a diverse 
range of individuals while acknowledging their vulnerabilities and 
insecurities. It’s noteworthy that not only do a multitude of new ideas 
gain a sacred status, but specific locations, spaces, activities, trees, 
and even stones are also revered. Imagination fuels the belief that a 
better world is within our reach.
Particularly within feminist studies, efforts are being made to utilize 
a multitude of concepts encapsulated by the umbrella term ‘rescue 
theories’ of the Anthropocene era. In times of ecological catastrophe, 
rising populism, migrant crises, and war, articulating spiritual ties 
seems crucial for fostering a sense of togetherness that is rooted in 
mutual care. Following the affirmative, affective and post-secular turns 
in the humanities, the conference is set to explore faith, the sacred, 
and the spiritual in the context of contemporary art.

We kindly request that you submit your speech proposals as a concise 
abstract (no more than 300 words) and a brief biography (up to 200 
words). Please email your submissions to Anna Markowska at 
anna.markowska at outlook.com. The deadline for submissions is the 7th of 
April 2024.


Reference / Quellennachweis:
CFP: The Postcolonial Sacred in East-Central Europe (online/Wroclaw, 
20-21 Jun 24). In: ArtHist.net, Feb 15, 2024. 
<https://arthist.net/archive/41226>.