Talks
Expanding Design Narratives
Beatrice Leanza
Beeline (detail of architectural intervention) by SO-IL for maat – museum of art architecture and technology (Lisbon), 2020. Photo by Iwan Baan courtesy of Beatrice Leanza.
Design narratives not only reflect the values and aspirations of society, but also have the power to shape and transform them. As design narratives expand, they challenge traditional paradigms and open up platforms for alternative perspectives.
Beatrice Leanza’s talk will explore how institutions dedicated to design struggle with the expanding nature of their field; the need for them to reimagine, experiment with and adapt their roles; and the modes of agency they may employ in order to stay relevant, impactful and sustainable. She will delve into how institutions can “decolonise” and “queer” their practices. This involves challenging norms, embracing diversity, inclusivity, and intersectionality to create more inclusive and equitable spaces for design. In addition, Leanza will look at the study of non-human entities and systems, like ecosystems and artificial intelligence, and how by incorporating these, institutions can broaden their understanding of design and its role in shaping the world around us.
This event is organised with the Consulate General of Italy in Bengaluru.
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.
Beatrice Leanza
Beatrice Leanza is a cultural strategist, museum director and critic with a background in Asian Studies, who was based in Beijing for 17 years. She was Executive Director of MAAT – Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, Lisbon; Creative Director of Beijing Design Week; Director of MUDAC – Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts, Lausanne, Switzerland; and co-founded The Global School, the first independent institute for interdisciplinary creative research established in the PRC. Articles and interviews about her and her projects have appeared in Artforum, Abitare, CNN Style, Domus, Dezeen, Frieze, Flash Art International, The Art Newspaper, T Magazine/The New York Times, The Guardian, Il Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica, Vogue Italia, among many others. She is a member of the international advisory board of Design Trust (Hong Kong), and is a European Young Leader (2018 – present; Friends of Europe Foundation, Brussel).
