ARTISTS

Our two last editions had a line-up of artists whom all (almost) previously had participated live at the festival in Gothenburg. This exclusive reinvitation of artists who had already been part was a way for us to show our respect, support and recognition in a difficult time. We also felt it less meaningful to invite new artists for a first time participation in an online event.

Now after two pandemic years of screen life, Live Action is back live with a line-up of nine artists who have never taken part in the festival, and three who have participated previously. While we want to renew and explore new artistic talent from around the world, we also feel it is essential, yes an obligation, to sustain a visibility for artists who have participated previously. Especially in a time when the number of international performance art festivals are decreasing. This year we have reinvited three artists ; Chuyia Chia (Malaysia/Sweden), Nigel Rolfe (Ireland) and John Court (UK/Finland). We know their work and capacity to surprise in visual images that will trigger our audiences to think and feel in new ways. Besides these three established artists in contemporary performance art we have also invited John Halpern (USA), Markus Hensler (Switzerland), Pavana Reid (Thailand/Norway), Diana Soria Hernandez (Mexico/Finland), Emelié Sterner (Sweden) and Ali Thareb (Iraq/Sweden) whose work we want to explore in depth by their presence.

The fall of Kabul in August 2021 making the daily news, triggered us to contemplate Sweden’s own two decade long engagement in Afghanistan, militarily at war while receiving refugees at home. Above all we questioned ourselves, why we despite this double relation had not yet invited any Afghan artist to take part in the festival. We decided in unison to do so and explore its contemporary art scene which we understood had to be exiled. After some time of research we distinguished three artists with Live Action’s high quality content approach : Kubra Khademi living in Paris, Sara Nabil based in Frankfurt and Kaveh Ayreek who was just able to get out of Kabul last August and find refuge in Norway. All of course living in exile as refugees, keeping alive their country’s cultural edge, heritage and future, by being active and producing new work, yes by being alive.

The pandemic has given us time and space to reflect about Live Action and its future, and we hope that this 17^th edition will signal that, a rebirth, something new, under the banner of Joseph Beuys beautiful motto, “Art is the Science of Freedom”.

Kaveh Ayreek. Victim. Kabul 2014.