Panel talk Close Your Eyes and Carry On?
Denial, Climate Justice, and Artistic Strategies
When:
Wed, May 20, 2026, 6pm–8pm
Free admission
Duration:
approx. 2 hours
Meeting point:
Garden Lenbachhaus (in the foyer in case of bad weather)
The talk will be held in German and English.
No registration required.
Seating is unreserved on the garden chairs and folding chairs.
Accessible entry to the garden is via the gate on Luisenstraße. Our security staff will be happy to open the gate for you. You can reach our staff at +49 89 233 66300.
When:
Wed, May 20, 2026, 6pm–8pm
Free admission
Duration:
approx. 2 hours
Meeting point:
Garden Lenbachhaus (in the foyer in case of bad weather)
The talk will be held in German and English.
No registration required.
Seating is unreserved on the garden chairs and folding chairs.
Accessible entry to the garden is via the gate on Luisenstraße. Our security staff will be happy to open the gate for you. You can reach our staff at +49 89 233 66300.
The challenges of climate change affect us all, but not all living beings are affected equally. In this panel discussion, we aim to shed light on the complex interconnections between societal denial and climate justice, as well as the role of art. Which human and non-human beings are particularly affected? How can we think about sustainability in an intersectional way? How can emotional perception, ecological grief, and artistic strategies change the situation and make it visible?
We look forward to an inspiring discussion with Paulo Cesar dos Santos Conceição, Valentina Karga, and Lena Schlegel, moderated by Samira Yildirim.
Paulo Cesar dos Santos Conceição began exploring the topic of sustainability during his studies in Brazil. Upon arriving in Germany, he wrote his thesis on water conflicts in Brazil. Today, he works at Netzwerk MORGEN e.V., an umbrella organization for migrant organizations, where he connects the topics of environment and sustainability with migration and displacement. He is also on the board of Netzwerk Klimaherbst.
Valentina Karga, born in Chalkidiki, northern Greece, lives in Berlin and is a professor of "Relational Design" at the Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe. Previously, from 2018 to 2024, she taught at the University of Fine Arts Hamburg, where she developed projects with her students for documenta 15 in Kassel and Somerset House in London. In her art, she questions the concept of the "self" and proposes non-anthropocentric narratives of the future. Her projects promote engagement, participation, and sustainability and often actively involve the audience. Valentina is a founding member of Collective Disaster, an interdisciplinary group at the intersection of architecture and the social sciences.
Lena Schlegel studied political science, sociology, and peace and conflict studies. Her research focuses on society’s relationship with nature and how it is changing, particularly on the role of emotions, values, and conflicts of concern. In her doctoral research at the Rachel Carson Center at LMU and the University of Melbourne, she examined societal responses to wildfires in southeastern Australia. Among other things, she has worked on research projects related to global health, disaster risk reduction, science and technology ethics, and as a lecturer at the universities of Tübingen, Augsburg, and Erlangen-Nuremberg. She also uses her passion for photography to connect science, art, and activism and to raise awareness for environmental projects.
