‘I can’t help but dream of the kind of criticism that would try not to judge but to bring an oeuvre, a book, a sentence, an idea to life; it would light fires, watch grass row, listen to the wind,
and catch the sea foam in the breeze and scatter it.’— Michel Foucault, The Masked Philosopher, 1997.

We know the feeling. But how in practice can we enliven how we think and talk about artworks? Exploring one possible answer, Schnellkritik! is a fastmoving, experimental evening bringing together 20 writers, artists, critics and musicians to give a series of 4-minute responses to Berlin-based artist Manfred Pernice’s exhibition, using the platform afforded by his quadrant sculpture Tutti. Curated by Launch Collaborative in collaboration with Dan Hicks and Emily Smith, the evening – part art criticism, part pecha kucha, perhaps part karaoke – will not just gather together a diversity of responses to Pernice’s work, but will explore a new, more performative approach to thinking and talking about contemporary art.

Participants include: Tom Bloor, Artist; James Dixon, Space Explorer; Envelope, Musician; Seb Thomas, Artist; Dan Holloway, Writer; Judith Winter, Curator; Peter Shenai, Artist; John Stevenson, Architect; Kira Freije, Artist; Chris Turner, Comedian; James Langdon, Graphic Designer; John Gold, Architectural researcher; Jessica Curry, Experimental Composer; Rachel Wells, Art Historian.

Launch Collaborative is an Oxford based artist-run organisation that provides a platform for creative exploration, developing opportunities for early and mid-career artists. Dr Dan Hicks is University Lecturer and Curator in the Modern Period, School of Archaeology / Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford.

This is the first of TPSE TALKS, a new series of events supported by Arts Council England’s Turning Point South East initiative.