Prof. Dr. Mona Schieren is co-initiator of a symposium on Lygia Clark

To accompany the first comprehensive retrospective of Lygia Clark (1920–1988) in Germany at Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin, this two-day symposium invites interdisciplinary contributions that explore Clark’s multifaceted practice and its resonance across art history, theory, pedagogy, psychiatry and contemporary artistic production. The symposium is co-initiated by Prof. Dr. Mona Schieren, Professor for Transcultural Art Histories at HfK Bremen, who has been conducting long-term research on Lygia Clark’s practice, particularly focusing on the transcultural entanglements present in her work. 

Lygia Clark is regarded as a radical innovator as she fundamentally redefined the relationship between artist and viewer, artwork and space. Lygia Clark's approach –understanding art as a participatory, sensorial, sometimes even healing experience– establishes her as one of the most internationally pioneering and important artists of the second half of the 20th century. Her work demonstrates close links to European modernism, particularly concrete and constructivist art, while also marking her emancipation from these movements. Clark has had a lasting influence on subsequent generations through her art and remains a central point of reference for contemporary artists today. The extraordinary significance of her oeuvre lies in her ability to transcend the dominance of the visual in art, expanding the act of viewing to include other sensory perceptions such as hearing, feeling, smelling and touching. In doing so, her works invite passive viewers into becoming active participants in a subjective art experience – an approach that remains highly relevant, as direct interaction with works of art is still largely uncommon in museums todaay.

Despite her impact as a pioneer of participatory and sensorial art, Clark remains largely unknown to the general public in Germany. This symposium aims to intensify scholarly attention on her oeuvre, further situate her work within global modernisms, and critically engage with its enduring relevance.

For Prof. Dr. Mona Schieren, the symposium represents a rare opportunity to bring together scholars, artists and cultural practitioners from diverse fields and backgrounds, opening a dialogue around an artist whose work remains insufficiently discussed in Germany. The symposium addresses Clark’s multifaceted practice, whose explorations of participation, sensory experience, and transcultural exchange continue to resonate with contemporary artistic and scholarly discourses.

Further information and the symposium programme will be published shortly on the websites of the Neue Nationalgalerie and the Ibero-American Institute Berlin.