Doug Ashford, Maha Maamoun, Tobias Zielony

It’s time to apply for one of the courses at this year’s Summer Academy. What are they about? Click here for all details. Additionally we’ll give you more information on the specific topics as well as on news from our teaching artists, curators and writer here on the blog.

The “human” and the “non-human”

What is “the human”? What distinguishes man from animal or from machine? What are the specific options open to human conduct, and how can these be considered through art? In an age of biopolitics, global waves of refugees and terrorist attacks, these questions are more relevant than ever, and will be discussed by several of the teachers. Using various media, Doug Ashford (The non-human) and the Egyptian video artist Maha Maamoun (They were like animals) will explore with their students forms of human society, culture and political structure. Tobias Zielony (Migration), represented this year in the German pavilion in Venice, will examine through photography the cultural backgrounds and experiences brought to Salzburg by people who have fled or migrated here.

Tobias Zielony, Al Akrab, 2014, courtesy KOW, Berlin

A complete survey of Zielony’s work in film is currently on view at KOW gallery in Berlin until February 14. In this short interview in Ludlow magazine he describes what is important for him in his photography and films. On February 10, the German Pavilion of La Biennale di Venezia 2015 helds a round-table with the participating artists Olaf Nicolai, Hito Steyerl, Tobias Zielony and Jasmina Metwaly and Philip Rizk at Künstlerhaus Bethanien / Studio 1 in Berlin.

Doug Ashford, Bakersfield, CA, 2014, installation view, Henie-Onstad Kunstsenter, Oslo

Soon you can see Doug Ashford’s work in a group show at Ludlow 38 in New York, opening on February 20.

Maha Maamoun, 2026, 2010

Maha Maamoun's work is involved in the group show Lest the two seas meet at Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, opening on February 12. On February 20, Maamoun’s film 2026 will be screened within the film programme Dreams and Delusions at NYUAD, The Arts Center in Abu Dhabi.