Can exploring experiences of loss and grief, through an autobiographical lens, offer artists a way to connect with audiences, themselves and each other after nearly two-years of pandemic isolation? Artist and writer Morgan Quaintance will talk through his own process of using personal experiences, discussing the benefits and personal hazards of mining what might be identified as depressive emotional states, to create work that facilitates positive and potentially supportive relationships and new interpersonal connections.

Susan Schuppli's artist talk focuses on the body of research and work developed through the “Learning from Ice” project, which includes a documentary film shot in the Canadian Ice Core Archive and a US geochemistry lab (2019), followed by research into the changing conditions of sea ice and glacial retreat in the Svalbard Arctic Archipelago (2020).

Tirdad Zolghadr will speak about contemporary art’s complicity with gentrification schemes and the role it has to play in land grabs and urban development.

Suhail Malik will speak about how cultural and artistic production can no longer be concentrated in the 'world cities' that nonetheless use art and culture to sell themselves.