conference

MetaForum X – PermaCrises | 2nd day

MetaForum X – PermaCrises - 2nd day


Embracing the legacy of the three MetaForum conferences (1994-96), MFX continues to highlight the urgent issues of the times with a reflection on contemporary crisis surfing. The theme of PermaCrises examines the persistent breakdown of our political, societal and cultural systems, capturing the extremity of this situation through its continuality and pervasiveness.

The unique political climate of East-Central Europe, situated in a semi-periphery, generates a perspective that often feels overlooked and stagnant. In the nineties, Hungary provided a useful lens with which to view emerging social, political and technical realities – almost in slow motion – as they came into being. In keeping with this, this event seeks dust of that lens with a view that underscores the regional context, fostering dialogues about the cultural dynamics of the immediate environment, influenced by and influencing global tendencies. While some speak of a ‘stack of crises’, others use terms such as polycrisis and metacrisis. Permacrisis emphasizes time: a neverending end. It questions how to confront crises such as the hot wars in Ukraine or Gaza, or the warm wars across the global south, the rise of right-wing populism worldwide, the impending environmental catastrophe, and the growing social disparities globally. None of these crises can be separated from the current ascent of technocracy or the exploitative nature of digital capitalism.

In October 1994, the inaugural MetaForum significantly impacted media art, activism and discourse within Hungary, across East-Central Europe and points further West. Organized by the Media Research Foundation in cooperation with the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest, it was conceived of and realized by Geert Lovink, Diana McCarty, and János Sugár. This series of three yearly conferences transformed the scope of media art events and gained a special notoriety. It sparked vital discussions and collaborations, blending media criticism, tactical media, and cultural exchanges between East and West.  As the 30th anniversary draws near, we are excited to announce MetaForumX, set for October 2024. This edition promises to tackle the critical issues of our era, focusing on the deep influence of digital technology on art, culture, and societal frameworks.

Over two days, MetaForumX will merge presentation formats and topics featuring younger voices that are engaged with current issues and reconnecting with original participants from the series with in-depth lectures, discussions and screenings. The urgent concerns of young people bridging generational knowledge and fostering ongoing dialogue for a sustainable and inclusive future.

The language of the conference is English.
Free entrance

Editorial Team
Flóra Barkóczi, Geert Lovink, Áron Lődi, Diana McCarty, Zsolt Miklósvölgyi, János Sugár

Speakers
Dušan Barok, Ágnes Básthy, András Cséfalvay, Mijke van der Drift, Constant Dullaart, Sepp Eckenhaussen, Charlotte Eifler, Boldizsár Hordós, Sanneke Huisman, Szabolcs Kisspál, Róna Kopeczky, Juli Laczkó, David Muñoz Alcántara, Szilvi Német, Tjaša Pogačar, Oleksiy Radynski, Vanda Sárai, Sanja Sekelj

Programme
Day 2: October 26, 2024 – ‘Forum Day’ at Trafó

10:00 - 11:30
Session 4: Beyond the Institutional System – Cultural Work in the Era of PermaCrisis  
- Sepp Eckenhaussen: Art in Permacrisis: Organizing Art Workers in the World Beyond Art 

Session 4+: Discussion moderated by Zsolt Miklósvölgyi
- Sepp Eckenhaussen
- Sanneke Huisman from LI-MA, Amsterdam
- Tjaša Pogačar from ŠUM, Ljubljana
- Róna Kopeczky from Easttopics & Secondary Archive, Budapest

11:30 - 12:30
Session 5: Red Forest (Mijke van der Drift, David Muñoz Alcántara & Diana McCarty) – in conversation with Szabolcs Kisspál

12:30 - 14:00
Lunch Break at Trafó's café (Trafik)

14:00 - 15:00
Session 6: Aims and Relevance of MetaForum – Then (1994-1996) and Now

Roundtable with Geert Lovink, Diana McCarty, János Sugár
Moderated by Flóra Barkóczi

15:00 - 15:30
Coffee break

15:30 - 16:30
Session 7: Discussion with members of UKRAiNATV and the newly founded Stream Art Network, moderated by Geert Lovink

16:30 - 17:30
Final discussion about contemporary arts, the digital condition and the perma crisis, in Hungary, the region, Europe and beyond

*** 

From 18:00
Hungarian University of Fine Arts - Intermedia Department  (1063 Budapest, Kmety György u. 27.)
Closing event
Stream Art Network LIVE with UKRAiNATV web streaming network, with onsite and remote contributions from Krakow, Kyiv and elsewhere, including a conversation between Szabolcs Kisspál and Geert Lovink & sound performance of Dániel Kophelyi and Ádám Jeneses


Partners: Trafó Gallery, Hungarian University of Fine Arts - Intermedia Department, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Hungary

More information: metaforumx@proton.me
TRAFÓ KORTÁRS MŰVÉSZETEK HÁZA
ticket office:
  • Main hall performance days: 5 pm - 10 pm
  • studio and club performance days: 5 pm - 8:30 pm
  • other days: 5pm - 8 pm
Trafó Gallery opening hours:
  • Performance days: 4-10pm.
  • Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 4pm-7pm.
  • Closed on Mondays.

  • The Trafó Kortárs Művészetek Háza Nonprofit Kft. works in the maintance of Budapest Főváros Önkormányzata.

Media partners

Cooperative partners