June 18th, 2026

Ornament as feminist practice

Ornament has undoubtedly re-emerged as a subject of critical interest across art and design. Long dismissed as superficial, decorative, or secondary to form and function, ornament is increasingly being reconsidered as a site of knowledge production, cultural memory, bur also political expression.

“Confused, Feeble, Romantic, (Profusely) Decorated: Ornament as Feminist Practice” is a two-day international symposium that explores ornament as a critical tool in artistic practice and visual design. Throughout the event, participants will discuss how ornament can function as an aesthetic strategy in art and design, and examine its renewed relevance within contemporary visual culture.

On 18 and 19 June 2026, invited guests and students will come together to consider ornament not merely as decoration, but as a mode of material reflection and a potential framework for non-hierarchical, relational structures. By engaging with historical, cultural, and artistic contexts, the symposium investigates how ornament can operate as a form of “visual alphabet” — one that shapes new languages and supports feminist and democratic approaches to art and design.

Visal Design: Aaron Auel, Clara Henrich, Nathanja Fetzner, Vincent Brod.

All events will take place in either German or English (CEST) at the Linke Kapelle, HfG Offenbach (Schloßstraße 31, 63065 Offenbach am Main), and will not be livestreamed. The programme is open to the public and free of charge. No registration is required. Larger groups are kindly asked to register in advance via email.

Programme

  1. Juni
    10:00 Opening
    10:15 Nadira Husain
    12:00 Jule Tabea Martin & Francesco Colli im Gespräch
    14:30 Tim Ingold (online)
    16:45 Dayna Casey
    ab 18:15 Evening Programme, HfG Radio

  2. Juni
    10:00 Rietlanden Women’s Office
    11:45 Anna-Mariia Kucherenko
    14:15 Fanny Brandauer
    16:00 Kevin Bray
    17:45 luxxuryproblems
    ab 19:15 Abendprogramm mit HfG Radio

An event organized by HfG Offenbach in collaboration with WDC World Design Capital RheinMain 2026. The symposium is initiated by Tatjana Stürmer (Research Associate) and is researched, planned, and realized together with the students: Adrian Baczyk, Levent Efe, Paula Heinrich, Delfina Winter, Luis Hirschberg, Djamila Wick, Leonie Englert, Sogol Hassani, Aaron Auel, Chelsea Hartmann, Nathanja Fetzner, Vincent Brod, Nathaniél Hübel, Marcellina Milz, Taisiia Lokteva, Clara Henrich, Mia Lauhoff, Greta Maldener, Marta Yankovska, Mathilda Unseld, Svetlana Kolobova, Anne Devlin, Noëmi Ihrig, Anjali Gautam, Simon Geis, Noel Seo, and Elias Brader. Exhibition and event scenography: Delfina Winter and Leonie Englert.

References