Art and Religion in Times of Crisis - Symposium

On June 13, 2025, Museum Catharijneconvent and the Center for Religion and Heritage (University of Groningen) are organizing a symposium to accompany the exhibition Between Heaven and War.

In a multi-faceted day program, researchers and artists will discuss the art of the inter-war period, a period of great extremes. How do we see these strong contrasts reflected in the various art styles and ideological ideas? And how did visual art relate to (the rapidly changing) religious values and frameworks? There is also attention for the parallels with the present, in social developments as well as in contemporary art. Can contrasts and insights from the past help us see current events in a different light?
The programme will be in Dutch.

Speakers include: Prof. Dr. Kocku von Stuckrad (professor of Religious Studies at
the University of Groningen), Maite Karssenberg (writer and historian), Anne
Jesuina de Andrade (interdisciplinary artist), Gijs Altena (literary researcher),
Catrien Schreuder (head of Collection and Exhibitions at Centraal Museum), Juha
van 't Zelfde (artist and teacher) and Dr. Lieke Wijnia (head of Research &
Collections at Stedelijk Museum Schiedam). Led by program maker, designer and artist Caspar van Gemund, they will engage in a conversation with each other and the audience about the contemporary relevance of these themes.

The programme will take place from 9:30 - 17:30 at Museum Catharijneconvent,
Utrecht.