What does the future of performance art look like?

On the occasion of Copenhagen Contemporary’s 10-year anniversary, visual artist Esben Weile Kjær and CC’s Director Marie Laurberg meet for a conversation on the future of performance art.

Esben Weile Kjær is one of the most prominent artists of his generation, known for his spectacular, high-energy performances and large-scale spatial installations. With solo exhibitions at institutions such as Copenhagen Contemporary, Kunsten in Aalborg, and Amant in Brooklyn – and performances at venues including Centre Pompidou, Neue Nationalgalerie, and Museum Tinguely – he has, in just a few years, made a strong international impact. His practice explores pop culture, identity, collectivity, and scenography, always placing the body at its centre.

As Artistic Director of Copenhagen Contemporary, Marie Laurberg plays a key role in shaping the institution’s future direction, including how performance art unfolds within the art centre’s monumental spaces. In the conversation, she brings an institutional perspective and historical awareness into dialogue with Esben’s experimental, forward-looking practice.

Together, they explore where performance art is headed.

The conversation is part of CC10, Copenhagen Contemporary’s festival for performance, talks, and concerts, marking the institution’s 10-year anniversary.

A rare opportunity to experience two sharp voices – an artist and an institutional leader – unfold a conversation about the future of live art, its potentials, and its yet-to-be-discovered spaces.