Artistically Speaking: When Norms Collide

We live in a time when many voices want to be heard – and when more and more people feel vulnerable or offended. Art finds itself caught in the crossfire. Historically, art has been a place for questioning, for provocative expression, for the uncomfortable. But what happens when artists begin to hesitate? When the fear of hurting, being misunderstood or ostracised leads to self-censorship?

In today's conversation, we want to address the anxiety that sometimes characterises our cultural debate – especially when art moves into charged areas such as religion, identity and history. Taking as our starting point the theatre production Abraham, which highlights the shared narratives of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, we bring together a number of performing artists with connections to the three religions to discuss where the boundaries lie – and whether they should lie there.

We want to ask: How can art remain free without being disrespectful? Can one question without condemning? And what role do religious narratives play in the artistic interpretation of our contemporary world?

• Panel: Pernilla Eskilsson, Wahid Setihesh and Dmitri Plax
• Moderator: Johan Gry