Art and Solidarity Reader — Radical Actions, Politics and Friendships (OCA / Valiz, 2022) is a new publication edited by Katya García-Antón featuring a collection of various accounts of artistic solidarity globally from the 1970’s to today. The publication also acts as a companion to ‘Actions of Art and Solidarity’, the OCA-curated exhibition that took place at Kunstnernes Hus in 2021. Art and Solidarity Reader emphasizes the centrality of artist-led empathy and personal connectivity in building networks of solidarity and concrete actions that generate profound transformation in society.

For the book’s first public launch in Norway, editor of the Reader and former director of OCA, Katya García-Antón will introduce the publication. Norwegian-Palestinian historian, Toufoul Abou-Hodeib will present her research for the Reader and her chapter titled The Travelling Scarf and Other Stories. Art Networks, Politics and Friendships Between Palestine and Norway. Mixe language rights activist and researcher, Yásnaya Elena Aguilar Gil, and Southern Sámi PhD fellow, Eva Maria Fjellheim, will discuss Indigenous language advocacy and their contributions to the Reader. Curator of Contemporary Art at MUNCH, and assistant editor of the Reader, Liv Brissach will talk about queer solidarity drawing on the work Probably Chelsea by Heather Dewey-Hagborg and Chelsea Manning presented as part of the ‘Actions of Art and Solidarity’ exhibition. Welcome words by OCA director, Ruben Steinum.

To give collective closure to the programme, the Latin America Solidarity Organisation in Norway (LAG) will lead a Mística; a political ritual and performative practice intended to create unity and solidarity.

Launch Event: Art and Solidarity Reader