Book Presentation: In the Absence of Bombs. Art, War, and Silence / Pascal Gielen
On Sunday, May 31 at 2:00 PM, we invite you to the presentation of In the Absence of Bombs. Art, War, and Silence, edited by Pascal Gielen and Bahia Shehab.
During the event, together with Pascal Gielen, we will discuss the key questions raised by the book:
- What happens when violence unfolds before our eyes, yet responses to it remain uncertain and hesitant?
- Why do political, academic, and cultural institutions fall silent, and even committed artists falter in the face of war?
- And how art can contribute to recognition of the unfolding crimes against humanity?
In the Absence of Bombs brings together essays, reflections, and testimonies by artists, writers, and researchers from different contexts — from Palestine and Lebanon to Ukraine — addressing experiences of war, loss, memory, and collective grief. The collection examines this silence and composes a polyphonic response to a world that demands clarity but offers none. It does not moralize. It insists. On mourning. On commitment.
The presentation will take place on the 3rd floor of PinchukArtCentre. Admission is free with prior registration. Event language: English.
The event is organized in partnership with the bookstore Zbirka Bookstore. The book will be available for purchase at the bookstore after the presentation.
About the speaker:
Pascal Gielen is a writer and full cultural and political sociology professor at the Antwerp Research Institute for the Arts (University of Antwerp, Belgium), where he leads the Culture Commons Quest Office (CCQO). He also serves as editor-in-chief of the international book series Antennae – Arts in Society (Valiz). In 2016, Gielen received the prestigious Odysseus Grant from the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO) for outstanding international scientific research. In 2022, the Flemish government appointed him curator of the Culture Talks conference. Gielen’s research explores creative labor, the commons, and urban and cultural politics.
