Aesth/Ethics: hospitality in art and society

The term “ethics” can refer to morality or to an unconditional hospitality of the Other. This later view, proposed by Emmanuel Levinas, positions the ethical act as a response to the destitute call of the Other.

This year’s Ereignis conference aims to explore the relationship between ethics and aesthetics in both of these conceptions of the ethical. Key questions are:

  • What is the role of art in environmental ethics and in a confrontation with unethical aspects of hyper-capitalism?
  • Can art and should art propose ethical models of behaviour for the well-being of society?
  • What does ethics as hospitality mean, and can art function as a site for such hospitality?

The 5th interdisciplinary Ereignis conference will take place on August 9 and 10, 2025 at Hotel Nadmorski in Gdynia, Poland, with a hybrid option for those unable to attend in person. Registration will be required.

Image: Miletus Torso, c. 480–470 BCE. Louvre Museum. © Daniel Lebée and Carine Déambrosis. Used by permission.

Conference Programme

All times CET (Warsaw). The programme may be subject to change.

Friday, August 8
18h30

Meet-and-greet at Vinegre Rooftop Bar. All welcome!

Saturday, August 9
08h45

Welcome

Dr. Torgeir Fjeld, Ereignis Center for Philosophy and the Arts
09h00

Keynote

Professor Jørgen Veisland, University of Gdańsk, Poland:
“Entropy as the primal physical and metaphysical force: Introducing Dror Pimentel’s Aesth-Ethics: Of Hospitality in Art, reading Stephen Crane’s ‘The Blue Hotel’” Abstract

Moderator: Torgeir Fjeld
10h00

Session 1 (on-site): Hospitality in Philosophy -- Levinas/Phenomenology

David Allen, Midland Actors Theatre, and Agata Handley, University of Lodz:
“Levinas and the Ontology of the Shadow: From Participation to Obliteration” Abstract

Agata Handley, University of Lodz, and David Allen, Midland Actors Theatre:
“Levinas and the Ethics of the Aesthetic Encounter: Ross Birrell and David Harding’s Triptych” Abstract

Sivan Handelsman, Haifa University:
“Phenomenology of Visibility in Teacher-Student Relationships and Theater Pedagogy” Abstract

Moderator: Dror Pimentel
11h30

Session 2 (on-site): Hospitality in Philosophy -- Derrida

Carl Corleis, Philosophical seminar, Kiel University:
“The Violent Inscription of Peace: On the Necessity of the Impossible in Derrida's Thinking of the Other” Abstract

Theodoros Skalidakis, Department of Philosophy, University of Crete:
“Ethics as Hospitality from the Perspective of Kantian and Derridean Philosophy” Abstract

Thomas Froy, Universiteit Antwerpen:
“The Subject of Hospitality: Is Heideggerian Hospitality Possible?” Abstract

Simon Gissinger, Université Bordeaux Montaigne:
“The Gift of Hospitality and the Event of Aesth-ethics” Abstract

Moderator: Jørgen Veisland
13h15

Lunch at Hotel Nadmorski

14h30

Workshop

Catherine Clover, Goldsmiths, University of London / Swinburne University in Naarm/Melbourne / RMIT University, Naarm/Melbourne:
“An Acoustic Commons of the East Atlantic Flyway” Abstract

View/Download the audience score

Moderator: Yang Yeung
15h30

Session 3 (on-site): Ethics and Aesth-ethics

Catherine Botha, Philosophy, University of Johannesburg:
“Ethics and Aesthetics: A Proposal” Abstract

Hovav Rashelbach:
“Nietzsche, Art and Ethics: Populism and the Philosophical ‘Golden Path’” Abstract

Meng-Shi Chen, Philosophy Department, Chinese Culture University, Taiwan:
“Ethics of Curating as Hospitality” Abstract

Moderator: Gal Hertz
17h00

Keynote

Professor Dror Pimentel, Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem:
“Hospitality in the Age of Econo-rithm” Abstract

Moderator: Jørgen Veisland
18h00

Day one ends
19h30

Conference dinner at Viceversa, Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria.

Sunday, August 10
08h45

Welcome

Dr. Torgeir Fjeld, Ereignis Center for Philosophy and the Arts
09h00

Keynote

Dr. Gal Hertz, Bezalel Academy for Arts and Design:
“Ethics of Resistance: Peter Weiss’s Aesth-ethics” Abstract

Moderator: Dror Pimentel
10h00

Session 4 (on-site): Hospitality in Art and Poetry

Rachel Verliebter:
“From Wound to Womb: The Birth of Infinity as a Site for Hospitality” Abstract

Lukas Graf, University of Hildesheim, and Noga Lilli Gerzon, University of Hildesheim:
“Dangerous encounters and daring to slay: Learning with Artemisia Gentileschi” Abstract

Lonnie Monka, Hebrew University:
“Bad Guest Poetics: Invitation, Improvisation, and the Ethics of Disruption” Abstract

Moderator: Jørgen Veisland
11h30

Session 5 (online): Hospitality in the Artwork

Kadir Kılıç, Free University of Berlin:
“Jacques Derrida on Hospitality to the Singular Artwork” Abstract

Letizia Masia, Università degli Studi di Perugia:
“Simone Weil and Maria Lai: the blue ribbon as a symbol of hospitality” Abstract

Troy Polidori, University of Tennessee, Knoxville:
“The Beauty of Tragedy” Abstract

Moderator: Kurt Campbell
13h00

Lunch at Hotel Nadmorski

14h30

Session 6 (online): Lived Hospitality

Jytte Holmqvist, Lund University Sweden:
“Ars vivendi 2025?” Abstract

Paolo Bosca, University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo, University of Turin:
“Participatory eco-art practices, inland areas and touristic hospitality.” Abstract

Maddalena Borsato, University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo (Italy):
“Feeding Body and Soul: Hospitality through Art in Social Collective Catering” Abstract

Moderator: Gal Hertz
16h00

Keynote

Dr. Kurt Campbell, University of Cape Town:
“South African (Rock) Art after Apartheid and the ethical ingenuity of the Barrydale puppet parade, or the primary achievement of techne in Africa” Abstract

Moderator: Gorica Orsholits
17h00

Roundtable

Dror Pimentel, drawing on Levinas, suggests that true hospitality primarly is a subjective act vis-a-vis the capital-o Other. In this sense, our responsibility to other, actual humans and non-human beings is overrided by the demands of our Other, our deity, or – to put it in Lacanian terms – the demands of the instance that institutes the law. There is a danger involved here. On the alter of the law we can end up sacrificing others who manifestly need our assistance. How can we resolve these potentially conflicting demands between the Other and the many others who require our hospitality?

In the Odyssey, Odyssevs find himself stranded on the island of the cyclops. When Polyphemos, the murderous cyclop, demands to know his name, Odyssevs answers that it is Outis – nobody or no-one.

When we face the multiple challenges of time, such as escalating social disparities, increasing technological domination, and overpowering ethnic and religious divisions, can we by moving beyond our I – the very name of our subjectivity – begin dissolve or resolve these rifts? In other words, can we by an act of self-engineering heal our social fabric?

Panellists:

Moderator: Torgeir Fjeld
18h00

Conference ends