39. Exhibition as Thing

This session explores the exhibition space as an alternative parliament, or ‘thing’: a gathering of citizens (Northern European etymology) around a thing in the sense of a matter of concern (Latour, 2004) that brings them together because it divides them, inviting discussion and debate. While the artistic space as an arena for creating atmospheres of democracy has been recognised in the performing arts through the practice of judicial/tribunal theatre (Călbează, 2025), equivalents in the visual arts remain underexplored in art historical research. In 2002, Bruno Latour and Peter Weibel inaugurated the thought exhibition: ‘a curatorial method based on the aesthetic and participatory capacity of the arts to address critical issues’ (Irrgang, 2022). The concept of the thought exhibition relates to Latour’s interest in Dingpolitik – object-orientated politics. In the visual arts, the object of art is both physical (the material work) and conceptual (the idea/s suggested). Increasingly, exhibitions engage visitors on complex global challenges, e.g. Christoph Büchel, Barca Nostra, 2015 (migration); Paulo Cirio, AI Attacks, 2024 (surveillance/disinformation); and Olafur Eliasson, A symphony of disappearing sound for the Great Salt Lake, 2026 (environment/ecology). In the exhibition as thing, artistic sites become conclaves for reflection, discussion, and debate that extend beyond these locations.

The panel welcomes papers that explore the notion and curatorial strategy of the exhibition as thing – either through specific examples, or the history of curatorial practice more broadly – to interrogate the function of the exhibition as a site of deliberation; a space for reimagining the sociopolitical crises of our time.

Themes: exhibition/curation, global challenges, object-orientated politics:

Lead Convenor: Erica O’Neill, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom

Co-convenors: Judith Tsouvalis, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom

Sotiria Grek, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom

To submit a Paper to this Session, please follow the guidance on our website and complete the AAH 2027 Call for Papers Proposal Submission Form.