Coexistence and Eco-futurism through Art

As rapid technological developments lead to devastating environmental consequences, “Coexistence and Eco-futurism through Art” considers how artistic production shapes our actions and advances a future where humans coexist in balanced harmony with nature. Led by Cecilia Kim, assistant professor in Notre Dame’s Department of Film, Television, and Theatre, the project brings internationally acclaimed artists to Notre Dame for a series of public talks, screenings, exhibitions, and workshops that gesture toward ecologically sustainable futures. The series expands exposure to artistic disciplines through experimental, multi-media artworks that incorporate film, performance, photography, sculpture, and painting and generates a vibrant synergy between artists and audiences by providing direct insight into artistic processes.

In addition to the public events, the series stimulates research and teaching at Notre Dame. During their stay, visiting artists will share unique insights into their artistic and curatorial vision with Kim’s spring “Video and Contemporary Media” class and meet with students for professional development conversations in mentorship settings.

Credits

Cecilia Kim and Notre Dame’s Department of Film, Television, and Theatre

Cecilia Kim is a video artist and assistant professor in the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre at Notre Dame. Born in Seoul, South Korea, she has also lived in Australia, England, and Singapore. Her videos take from conversations and nonfictional narratives, bridging personal and collective memory. Her recent research looks at invisible spaces of labor and the mechanized translation of cultural production.

Notre Dame’s Department of Film, Television, and Theatre (FTT) offers a liberal arts approach to the study of performing arts — a unique mix of design and production, writing and performance, history and theory. In having film, television, and theatre in one department, FTT prepares students for real-world applications where artists frequently move between and among the different entertainment spheres.

Cecilia Kim Discover FTT

Simone Hooymans

Simone Hooymans lives and works in Norway. She was part of the 2017 Statens Høstutstillingen (State Exhibition) in Norway, and her video has been commissioned and installed in Deichman Library Oslo. Hooyman’s work has been presented internationally at exhibitions and film festivals, including Ars Electronica, the 2017 Dutch Film Festival, and the Changwon Sculpture Biennale.

Simone Hooymans

Dario Robleto

Dario Robleto is an American artist, researcher, writer, and filmmaker based in Houston, Texas. His work has been exhibited widely and is held in collections including the Whitney Museum of American Art and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. His first book, The Heartbeat at the Edge of the Solar System: The Golden Record and Our Search for Connection, co-authored with Harvard art historian Jennifer Roberts, will be published by Scribner.

Dario Robleto

Andrea Ferrigno

Andrea Ferrigno is a painter currently based in Galesburg, Illinois. Ferrigno has exhibited across the United States and Europe, and her work has been published in ArtMaze Magazine and New American Paintings and is held in various international private and public collections.

Andrea Ferrigno

 
Vanessa Woods

Vanessa Woods is a San Francisco Bay Area-based artist working in photography, collage, and sculpture. Her work has been exhibited throughout the United States, including Filter Space in Chicago, The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, and The Institute of Contemporary Art in San Jose. Her work has been published in The Atlantic, The New York Times, and Harper’s. Her first monograph, M/Other, will be released by Luhz Press in Spring 2027.

Vanessa Woods

Funding & Support

This is a partner program of the 2027 Notre Dame Arts Biennial, supported with funding from the Notre Dame Arts Initiative.

This project is also made possible with funding from the Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good. Venue and staffing support provided by the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.