Kinga Szemessy, M.A. BA

Kinga Szemessy is a Hungarian performance artist living in Linz, trained in contemporary dance, dance anthropology, and various massage techniques (Aquasoma/Watsu, Swedish, Thai). As a guest lecturer, she has taught at Fontys University, Central European University, Mozarteum University, University of Theatre and Film Arts Budapest, and Budapest Contemporary Dance Academy. Her practice weaves together art, education, and social initiatives, enhancing perception and relationality through bodies and places.

Title of the dissertation project:
Embracing discomfort – Participatory choreographies and their relation to a heritage of dissent

The dissertation focuses on an artistic research project initiated by the doctoral candidate which was launched in response to the emergence of the ‘dance theatre-in-education’ field in Hungary and led to the establishment of the SVUNG Research Group in 2019. While acknowledging the embeddedness of her practice within the wider contemporary European scene of participatory art makers, the doctoral student analyses historical examples from the first and second public spheres of post-socialist countries and thus expands the discussion to a transnational horizon. The overarching theme of the research is ‘discomfort’ under which the candidate means the induction of the very moment of becoming shaken out of comfort, and thus to be on the threshold of orientating towards and away from something or someone. When a posture or being at a place does not (anymore) offer the sense of home, discomfort signals a bodily change that one can recognise through feelings (fear, disgust, yearning, aspiration etc.). Consequently, discomfort is regarded as a means to learn about us, others, and the world, and it could be related to (cultural) oppositions to hegemonial structures. The following key concepts have nourished the theoretical base to formulating an argument for discomfort: ‘disorientation’ by Sara Ahmed, ‘world-centred education’ and ‘desirability of desires’ by Gert Biesta, ‘pedagogy of discomfort’ by Megan Boler, and ‘dissensus’ by Jaques Rancière.

Supervisors:
Nicole Haitzinger (Paris-Lodron University Salzburg)
László Upor
Jeroen Fabius (Amsterdam University of the Arts)
Eeva Anttila (University of the Arts, Helsinki)