Act(ion)s of solidarity

Ukrainian artist Maria Kulikovska was invited as a keynote speaker for the Borderlines IX: Seeking Solidarity and Wonder Through Performance conference, which took place at De Montfort University in Leicester, UK, on 30 June and 1 July 2022. What follows is the text of Kulikovska’s keynote presentation, with introduction and contextual framing of Kulikovska’s work by conference organiser and chair, Alissa Clarke. During this artist keynote, Kulikovska explores her deep commitment to solidarity by reflecting on her complex geographical roots, family relations, experiences in Ukraine and as a twice-displaced artist, and examples of her multidisciplinary artworks, including: sculptures (Homo Bulla (2012); Soap Figure with Flowers (2019; a collaboration with Vinnichenko), solo activist performance/performance actions (Action (2014)/Act of Solidarity (2022); Body and Borders (2014–2017); War and Pea€e (2016); Raft CrimeA (2016); and feminist platforms (Flowers of Democracy [2015]). Through these reflections, Kulikovska traces: a longing for solidarity as a meaningful, sincere state of connectedness with others; striking acts of agentive and loving solidarity by family members; politically motivated false impressions of solidarity; acts of solidarity against russian violence and territorialism and patriarchal oppression; hopeful actions and offerings supporting queer solidarity and displaced peoples

Aesthetics · Art · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Solidarity · Artistic and Creative Research · Law