Lecture Series on Contemporary Art

The Body and Material in Contemporary Art

5/10–2/11 2026

What role do the body, physical presence, and materiality play in contemporary art? Can artworks be created from everyday objects, fabrics, or toys? And how does art help us reflect on emotions, identity, and our relationship with the world?

The TransformArt series offers five inspiring conversations with leading figures from a range of disciplines. Through dialogues with a philosopher, a dancer, a textile artist, a music journalist and theorist, and other distinguished guests, we will explore new ways of looking at contemporary art. Each session connects works of art with themes that extend beyond the gallery, showing how contemporary art and the questions it raises are closely connected to everyday life.

This edition of the programme takes us into the world of French artist Anette Messager, one of the most influential voices in contemporary art. Her exhibition Tragicomedy at Kunsthalle Praha presents large-scale installations, drawings, and collages that intertwine themes of the body, gender, memory, and emotion. Messager frequently works with ordinary materials and found objects, transforming them into powerful and unexpected artistic statements.

As part of the programme, you will have the opportunity to attend an exclusive VIP preview of the exhibition with the artist and the curatorial team, offering unique insight into the ideas and processes behind her work. We will also explore how art intersects with research, discover the stories of women who transformed the world of music, and examine the role of textiles within contemporary artistic practice.

COMING SOON

WHY JOIN TRANSFORMART?

  • Gain confidence in reading and interpreting contemporary art within broader social and cultural contexts.

  • Enjoy an exclusive VIP preview of Anette Messager's exhibition with the artist and the curatorial team.

  • Meet leading figures from Czech philosophy, contemporary art, music journalism, and curatorial practice.

  • Discover how contemporary art addresses themes such as the body, identity, emotion, memory, and gender.

  • Explore how everyday materials, textiles, and ordinary objects can acquire new meaning through artistic practice.

  • Gain behind-the-scenes insight into the making of exhibitions and artworks, and experience the work of artists and curators first-hand.

  • Find inspiration through the intersection of visual art, performance, philosophy, music, and literature.

TransformArt is not simply about acquiring knowledge. It is about experiencing a unique way of engaging with contemporary art through exceptional guests, meaningful dialogue, and encounters that go far beyond what a standard guided tour or lecture can offer.