Researching Motherhood

A walkshop series on motherhood and care work in the context of art, culture and institutions. How visible is motherhood in art? How compatible is care work with the art world? What role does the mother play in art history?

The Kunstmuseum Basel invites you to become part of Researching Motherhood. In five walkshops, the participants – accompanied by various artists – will explore how visible motherhood is in society. Together we will test different strategies of empowerment and negotiate proposals for a fair distribution of care work.

The occasion for the walkshops are the two exhibitions Louise Bourgeois x Jenny Holzer and Heute Nacht geträumt. The series of events is curated and led by the artist Kira van Eijsden.

The walkshops can be attended individually and participation is free of charge.
All interested persons from the age of 16 are invited. However, the individual details of the respective dates should be noted: The second walkshop (Performing Motherhood) is specifically for people who do care work, and the third (Oh Mother, oh Mother) is for FLINTA*. Tickets can be booked online. It is important to note that only the participants inside need a ticket. Children accompanying their parents are not counted. If the Walkshop is aimed exclusively at adults, there will be childcare available.

March 26, 2022
2 – 4 p.m.
Meeting point: Hauptbau, Foyer
For all interested persons, gladly with children
In German
Free ticket

HOW TO TAKE CARE (OF FEMINISM)
A walkshop about the feminist ABC: from Anarcho Feminism to Black Feminism, Cultural Feminism to Radical Feminism. With Angela Marzullo (she/her), artist.

Which spaces are for whom? Which bodies are desired? Which terms do we want to use? Which ones do we want to reoccupy? Do motherhood and art go together?
Using the method of the feminist ABC, we negotiate different spaces and design options for action for feminist care work. Together we practice taking up space and we design and discard power poses. «Feminism only works together.» (Angela Marzullo)

April 9, 2022
2 – 4 p.m.
Meeting point: Hauptbau, Foyer
For people who do care work, child care possible
In German
Free ticket

PERFORMING MOTHERHOOD
A walkshop about (art)historical images of mothers and their reality. With Lea Blair Whitcher (she/her), comedian and performer.

What is a mother? Who defines themselves as such? What impact does patriarchy have on motherhood? What are our perceptions of mothers? Does the often one-sided representation of motherhood in art history and care work prevent us from honestly sharing about it?
Beginning with a performative tour of the collection, we negotiate non-romanticized motherhood.

May 7, 2022
2 – 4 p.m.
Meeting point: Hauptbau, Foyer
For FLINTA*, childcare possible
In English
Free ticket

OH MOTHER! OH MOTHER!
Let's talk about Mother Figures, Mothering and Care work in Communities. With Ivy Monteiro (they/them), Performer, Choreographer, Event Producer and House Mother.

How do we take care of individuals? Who needs guidance, love and support?
How can we use mother as a verb? How do we educate ourselves to take better care, of each other, of mother nature? How can we celebrate ourselves and create supportive, diverse environments to expand our expectations on possibilities? Ivy Monteiro invites us for a lecture performance on their experience and perspective as a queer artist, a mother of a ballroom house and their research and work.

May 14, 2022
2 – 4 p.m.
Meeting point: Gegenwart, Foyer
For all interested people, gladly with children
In German
Free ticket

SHOW YOUR LOVE
A discursive walkshop with Mareice Kaiser (she/her), journalist, author and columnist.

What social structures need to change to create a level playing field for all artists? Could cultural funding help to support mothers in the art business? After a dialogical exhibition tour at Haus Gegenwart, we will sketch out options for action for a world in which care work is fairly distributed. Because making art is a luxury that people must be able to afford.

June 4, 2022
2 – 4 p.m.
Meeting point: Hauptbau, Foyer
For everyone, gladly with children
In German
Free ticket

FROM OUTRAGING TO EMPOWERING
An activist walkshop about labels, historiography and space with Hannah Cooke (she/her), artist.

How are FLINTA* represented? Who is writing about whom? Are mothers part of art history?
Together we question established power structures and conditions of the art world. Through activist strategies, we collectively make visible people who do care work.

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