Getty Hosts Discussion About Walls and Barriers around the World

Participants to discuss the Israel/Palestine separation barrier, U.S./Mexico border, visual documentation of walls and barriers, and more

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Oct 22, 2014

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On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the breach of the Berlin Wall, New Walled Order, a series of panel discussions held November 15 at the Getty Center, features scholars and artists reflecting on the social impact of walls and barriers.

Speakers address both the physical and symbolic significance of walls erected to contain and separate peoples, situate specific walls in historical and social contexts, examine their impact on local lives, and explore the dynamics of their local and global political roles.

The event also coincides with the opening of Josef Koudelka: Nationality Doubtful at the J. Paul Getty Museum, which contains powerful panoramic images of the Israel/Palestine separation barrier. Visual artists will speak about the role of art in mediating and ameliorating -more- the presence of walls, echoing the profound impact Koudelka’s photographs of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Prague had on world perception of the Cold War.

Speakers include Israeli intellectual and architect Eyal Weizman, professor at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and author or Hollow Land: Israel’s Architecture of Occupation, Gregory Rodriguez, founder and publisher of Zócalo Public Square, Michael Dear, professor of City and Regional Planning, University of California, Berkeley, and many others (full schedule and list of speakers below).

New Walled Order: The Aesthetics and Politics of Barriers Saturday, November 15, 2014 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Harold M. Williams Auditorium, Getty Center Free; reservations recommended. Call (310) 440-7300 or visit event page to make a reservation

Schedule and Speakers: 9:00a.m. – Check-in, coffee

9:30 – Welcome Peter Tokofsky, J. Paul Getty Museum Education Department Gail Kligman, UCLA Center for European and Eurasian Studies

9:40 – 10:10: Introduction Alexandra Novosseloff, Centre Thucydide, University of Paris “A World behind Walls? A Global Overview”

10:15 –12:15: Berlin Wall Ines Weizman, Bauhaus-Universität, Weimar “The Urban Arms Race over the Berlin Wall”

Julia Sonnevend, University of Michigan “Berlin Wall: The Making of a Global Icon”

Christof Zwiener, Berlin-based artist and artist-in-residence at the El Segundo Museum of Art and the Wende Museum in Culver City

The Largest Memorial Stone” Discussion

12:15-1:30: Lunch, exhibition viewing

1:30-3:45: Palestine Separation Barrier Koudelka: Shooting Holy Land Sneak preview of new film directed by Gilad Baram, an artist based in Berlin and Jerusalem who assisted Josef Koudelka when he was photographing the Separation Barrier Eyal Weizman, Goldsmiths College, University of London

“Unwalling” Miki Kratsman, Bezalel Academy of Art & Design, Jerusalem

“Infrastructures of Visibility Restrictions” Discussion with Josef Koudelka, Gilad Baram, Eyal Weizman, and Miki Kratsman

3:45-4:15: Break

4:15-5:30: U.S.-Mexico Border Wall Maurice Sherif, photographer and author of The American Wall “Art and the American Wall” Michael Dear, UC Berkeley “Living in the Shadow of the Wall” Discussion

5:30- 6:00: Concluding Remarks Gregory Rodriguez, Zócalo Public Square "When You’re Stranded on the Other Side" 6:00 – 7:00: Reception

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