Art in the Age of Panic Politics

Photo: flap

Intersections I: Art, Policy, and Political Discourse

Panel Discussion

Art in the Age of Panic Politics

Marita Muukkonen (FI), Ivor Stodolsky (FR/US), Simon Weckert (DE), Nancy Bates (AU), Sergio Fontanella (CU/US)

The all-too-common instrumentalization of fear and panic in political discourse demands well-thought-out counterstrategies. Starting from a close look at the limitations of the paradigm in which socially and politically engaged artists currently find themselves, the panel unpacks the possibilities of escaping the logic of viral media that invite panic politics and of creating alternative political narratives through artistic practice on the European continent and beyond.

The panel brings together artistic perspectives from Simon Weckert and Nancy Bates, as well as State of the ART(ist) jury members Sergio Fontanella, Marita Muukkonen, and Ivor Stodolsky.

POSTCITY, First Floor, Conference Hall
Fri 5. Sep 2025 12:25 – 13:10

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  • Photo: Roser Gamonal

    Ivor Stodolsky and Marita Muukkonen

    Ivor Stodolsky and Marita Muukkonen are Co-Founders and Co-Directors of Perpetuum Mobile (Helsinki-Berlin-Barcelona), whose Artists at Risk (AR) and Ecologists at Risk (ER) initiatives have brought hundreds of artists and rights-defenders to safety. They curate internationally and contribute to political, theoretical, and artistic symposia and juries. AR has received awards such as the State Prize of Finland and the European Citizen’s Prize of the European Parliament.

  • Photo: Ben Sercy

    Nancy Bates

    Nancy Bates is a proud Barkindji woman, composer, and internationally recognized singer-songwriter. A former collaborator of Archie Roach, she uses music to amplify First Nations voices and advocate for social justice, especially for incarcerated women, through storytelling and music. She leads songwriting workshops across Australia and created SONGS INSIDE, a groundbreaking documentary featuring the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, marking the largest performance ever held inside an Australian prison.

  • Photo: Simon Weckert

    Simon Weckert

    Simon Weckert, a modern-day digital wizard and mischievous tinkerer, revels in sharing his insights on everything from generative design to physical computing—think of it as tech wizardry with a dash of social commentary.

  • Photo: Dennys Castellano

    Sergio Fontanella

    Sergio Fontanella is a Cuban art historian, cultural manager, and curator based in the United States. He currently serves as Director of Operations & Collections at the Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation (CIFO), where he has played a pivotal role in the development and execution of the foundation’s core programs. Before joining CIFO, Fontanella taught courses on contemporary art at the University of Havana. His curatorial work focuses on the political and social dimensions of artistic practice.

Presented in the context of European Digital Deal. European Digital Deal is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union and by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport.