#finearts #writing

A workshop exploring art criticism as a practice of attention and resistance to excess, combining readings, gallery visits, and writing exercises to develop precise, intimate forms of critique and refine works-in-progress.

How can art criticism survive in an age of excess – too many images, too many opinions, too much speed? This workshop frames criticism as a practice of reduction: slowing down, resisting distraction, and focusing deeply on what matters – both in encountering artworks and in the writing process.

Through reading, walking, writing, and discussion, participants will explore criticism as a form of resistance to the over-saturation of the art world. Criticism here is not only a tool for interpreting art but also a practice of intimacy and care – an ethical stance toward both art and society.

Readings will range from Ernst Bloch’s Principle of Hope to Eduoard Glissant’s Poetics of Relation, alongside contemporary reflections on attention and minimal expression. We will consider the different forms criticism can take and explore strategies for self-preservation in publishing. Sessions will combine roundtable discussions with visits to Berlin galleries and museums, where participants will experiment with new critical forms: fragments, condensed reviews, and alternative approaches to critical thinking.

The workshop will begin by establishing a shared vocabulary through key readings, then carry these ideas into direct engagement with art and public space. Guest contributions from Berlin-based critics will enrich the dialogue, while group exercises will test modes of expression that favor precision over excess. The week will culminate in a collective sharing of texts, reflecting on how criticism can cultivate intimacy, clarity, and attentiveness in the present moment.

With Kate Brown (art critic and editor) and Mitch Speed (writer)

More information: https://summer-university.udk-berlin.de/?id=655