KArtsCon 2022: Theme - Kent Arts Conference

Theme for KArtsCon 2022

Art: Unexpected

The adage that ‘art is life’ is often true in its reverse – that life is art. Indeed, we can often perceive all sorts of things to be creatively ‘art’. This leads us to chance upon art in strange or unexpected settings. How about the moment when we gaze at something that is so commonplace and suddenly realise how immaculately designed it is – art, albeit unexpected?

Much of unexpected art is created simply by nature… from the delicate beauty of a flower to the beautiful shapes and colours clouds form in the sky, or monolithic masterpieces sculpted by the elements in the desert or ocean. Art that is created by humankind might be inspired by such natural formations, or by other unanticipated developments.

Art turns up in unexpected places such as Banksy’s murals or on the back of toilet doors. Art can unexpectedly result from experiments or accidents, from listening to suggestions or defying critics. The art of the past can inform the art of the present through its wisdom, or design, or repurposing.

Art results from relationships we build with the objects, circumstances, and environments around us, and with people. Memories frozen in photographs, culinary masterpieces for dinner parties, bridges over bodies of water, and landscaped gardens are just some of the art forms that we do not always immediately see as ‘art’.

This year, we would like to celebrate unexpected art in all its forms and origins, and by its creators. We call for participation from all art sectors and individuals, including those who might not necessarily consider themselves ‘artists’.

Come along and join (or add to) the debates and discussions.

Some of the topics below can serve as a guide for speakers and presenters:

What are works of art that you regard as “unexpected” and why?
What works of your own art have been inspired by the unexpected?
How has art inspired by negative circumstances resulted in positive change?
How has art from previous centuries gained new and unexpected meaning at later times in history?
How has art from very different cultures become relevant to our own?
Works created by nature that have awed and inspired humankind
Moments where serendipity led to success
Art inadvertently created from experiments or science
Creativity of artists turning something commonplace into art or an artform

These and other sub-topics will be explored through a variety of tracks. The tracks include:

Visual Presentations; Arts Workshops; Academic Papers; Creative Writing; A Short Film Festival; Art History Classes; Art Demos; Industry Panel; and, an Art Exhibit.