Art has a profound impact on my DEI work

What are sources of inspiration for your work?

For me it’s art.

Art has always been close to my heart – not by being talented for it, but through studying history of art, working in an art gallery and always visiting museums wherever I travel. Sometimes even traveling with a purpose of visiting a museum [guilty as charged].

Art has a profound impact on my DEI work and I try to use it to spark meaningful and difficult conversations but also challenge my own perspectives. Some of the most thought-provoking discussions I had on apartheid, neurodiversity, domestic violence or process of learning, I had after visiting an art gallery.

In this post, I want to share names of 9 artists and ways in which their art informs my thinking and my DEI practice:

[in no particular order]

• Karina Marusińska: addressing social issues in a very powerful way

• Mary Sibande: confronting topics of inequality and postcolonialism

• Zaha Hadid: innovating, showing new perspectives and making her a mark in a unique way

• Yayoi Kusama: encouraging to embrace oneself authentically

• Marina Abramović: speaking boldly about political and social issues

• Banksy: calling out on hypocrisy

• Oskar Zięta: showing the importance of making mistakes and having fun

• Tadashi Kawamata: combining art with community engagement on environmental issues

… and David Hockney: making me rest from the DEI work ;-)

What artists or other sources of inspiration inform and influence your work, and how do they contribute to your approach?

Also: if you’ve heard about a great exhibition I should check out – don’t hesitate to let me know!