PHD DEFENSE
Et si... des "futurismes arabes" en histoire de l'art ?
Joan Grandjean
14.11.24, Espace Colladon, 15:00
We are delighted to announce that our esteemed colleague, Joan Grandjean, will be defending his thesis on 14 November 2024 at 15:00 in Espace Colladon, University of Geneva.
The title of his thesis is “Et si... des 'futurismes arabes' en histoire de l'art,” and it provides an in-depth exploration of Arab futurities in contemporary art history.
This thesis explores the emergence of "Arab futurist" aesthetics in contemporary Arab art since the 2000s, focusing on works by Sophia Al-Maria (Gulf Futurism), Larissa Sansour (Palestine sci-fi trilogy), and Sulaiman Majali (Arabfuturism/s). The study argues that these artistic expressions are not mere epiphenomena but represent a narrative technique that serves as a conceptual framework for reimagining reality. This approach allows artists, curators, and art historians to transcend stereotypes and forced classifications often associated with contemporary Arab art whilst offering specific critiques of the current Arab geocultural space. By posing the question "What if...?", artists invite alternative scenarios, challenge established aesthetic conventions, and give voice to new perspectives. The thesis aims to analyse these artistic phenomena in depth, situating them within a broader historical context and examining the discourses that have contributed to the emergence and integration of "Arab futurisms" in contemporary art.
The defense will be conducted before an esteemed jury, including:
- Prof. Bruce Fudge, Jury president (University of Geneva)
- Prof. Silvia Naef, PhD Thesis supervisor (University of Geneva)
- Prof. Bärbel Küster, (Universität Zurich)
- Prof. Sophia Orlando (École nationale supérieure d'art de la Villa Arson)
-
Prof. Giovanna Zapperi (Université de Genève)
We encourage all of you to join us in supporting Joan during his thesis defense. Your presence will be greatly appreciated as we celebrate this milestone in his academic journey.