Invisible Dust at the 3rd annual IACCCA Symposium
Posted on 01.12.2021
How could art play a role in imagining new ways of living in our present time of climate crisis? The 3rd IACCCA (The International Association of Corporate Collections of Contemporary Art) International Symposium looked at how the ecological challenges of our era are influencing artistic practices. Featuring discussions of artists’ work such as Otobong Nkanga, Edward Burtynsky and Daniel Steegmann Mangrané, as well as Invisible Dust artworks ‘Human Sensor‘ by Kasia Molga and Wild Eye with Rob MacKay and Ryan Gander.
Alice Sharp, Artistic Director of Invisible Dust and Moderator of the Symposium
The Symposium took place at Caixa Forum in Madrid on Friday 19th November 2021, with in-depth debate bringing together professionals from across the cultural world: corporate art collection curators, artists, other curators, academics, creative producers and representatives of cultural organisations.
The event featured the Turner Prize-nominated Cooking Sections‘ amazing colour based presentation/performance of Climavore, which considered our relationship with food and in particular with Salmon. Academic and cultural critic T.J Demos‘ presentation in the plenary session focused on the possibilities in combatting inequalities and generating new futures including for non-human and human species through art, stating how ‘art is the training ground for the future’.
Lucy Wood, ID Creative Producer presents “Making the Invisible Visible: How Art-Science Collaborations Can Open Eyes, Inspire Change”
Speakers explored how art can relate to humans symbiotic or parasitical relationship with nature; the role of curators in this field; how artists are helping to conserve our oceans; how art can help us in imagining positive futures for the earth. In the context of this IACCCA setting, the day also explored how corporate art collections could have a positive role in linking their artworks to the Corporate Social Responsibility, and future visioning (and future proofing) the businesses they are part of.
Role of the IACCCA
IACCCA, short for International Association of Corporate Collections of Contemporary Art, is a non-profit organisation made up of over 50 corporate collections from across the globe. Together with their members, they reflect on the specific challenges and responsibilities of managing corporate art collections in the world of today and prepare for that of tomorrow. Their mission is to acknowledge the importance of companies’ commitment to art and increase awareness of the artistic and patrimonial value of each member’s collection. By engaging stakeholders in an educational dialogue, they seek to enhance the importance of contemporary art in both our corporations and in broader society.
Nimfa Bisbe, Nimfa Bisbe, Head of the Contemporary Art Collection ”la Caixa” Foundation and Vice-Chairman of IACCCA 
Loa Haagen Pictet, Chief Curator of Collection Pictet and Chair of IACCCA 
Cooking Sections (Daniel Fernandéz Pascual & Alon Schwabe), artists – “Becoming CLIMAVORE” 
Markus Reymann, Director of TBA21-Academy – “Formulating a Cultural Response to the Climate Crisis” 
T.J. Demos, Professor at University of California – “The Work of Art in the Age of Climate Emergency” 
Questions from the audience
New Publication Released
The book Art in the Time of Ecological Disruption was revealed during the symposium. With unique contributions from 52 IACCCA members and enlightening essays, the publication offers insights into the sociology of climate change and the challenges we face in the 21st century. Click here to download it.
IACCCA – Art in the Time of Ecological Disruption
Texts: Heidi Ballet, T.J. Demos and Selina Nwulu
Graphic Design: Lacasta Studio
Editor: Erica Witschey
2021 Speakers
Heidi Ballet, Independent Curator – “Climate Crisis Then and Now: Mapping Mindsets through Collections”
Markus Reymann, Director of TBA21-Academy – “Formulating a Cultural Response to the Climate Crisis”
Lucy Wood, Creative Producer – “Making the Invisible Visible: How Art-Science Collaborations Can Open Eyes, Inspire Change”
Cooking Sections (Daniel Fernández Pascual & Alon Schwabe), artists – “Becoming CLIMAVORE”
T.J. DEMOS, Professor at University of California – “The Work of Art in the Age of Climate Emergency”
