Conceptual  Activism: decolonial – trans_ecological – queer

Sagniquee, Banerjee,; Antek, Engel, Antke; keys), Heck, Karolina (kasu; (Fred), Landau-Donnelly, Friederike; Rafael, Baioni,; Samu/elle, Striewski,

doi:10.25620/e260330-1

Cite as: ‘Conceptual Activism: decolonial – trans_ecological – queer’, discussion presented at the symposium Conceptual Activism: Engaging Queerly in Conflictual Times, ICI Berlin, 30 March 2026, video recording, mp4, 01:31:32 <https://doi.org/10.25620/e260330-1>

Discussion
30 Mar 2026

Conceptual Activism

decolonial – trans_ecological – queer

Conceptual activism is a way of imagining otherwise, involving the materialization as and the embodiment of concepts. Transforming marginalized concepts into practice can prefigure alternative futures. In this discussion the invited guests will present concepts – like confluence, queer gestures, transecology, or conflictual aesthetics – that inform their professional, activist, or artistic practices. These are intended to inspire reflection and exchange on conceptual activism. There will be a particular focus on queering and transing, and how these approaches support decolonial, ecological, and feminist perspectives, while being open to conflict.

The discussion is participatory. Audience members are invited to join the speaker’s circle. There will be continuous movement between the inner, in-between, and outer circles of chairs, as well as between languages (German, English).

Venue

ICI Berlin
(Click for further documentation)

With

Aylon Cohen
Antke Antek Engel
Gergana Mineva
Yv Nay
Asmae Ourkiya
Alexandra Papademetriou
Rubia Salgado
Ferdiansyah Thajib
Sifen Wibell
Rafael Baioni
Sagniquee Banerjee
Karolina (kasu keys) Heck
Friederike (Fred) Landau-Donnelly
Samu/elle Striewski

Organized by

Sagniquee Banerjee
Antke Antek Engel
Karolina (kasu keys) Heck
Friederike (Fred) Landau-Donnelly
Rafael Baioni
Samu/elle Striewski

A cooperation between The Institute for Queer Theory (iQt) and ICI Berlin. The symposium is part of Queer Cohabitations a series of events celebrating the Institute for Queer Theory’s 20th-anniversary (March-October 2026).

Video in English, German

Format: mp4
Length: 01:31:32
First published on: https://www.ici-berlin.org/events/decolonial_trans_ecological_queer/
Rights: © ICI Berlin

Part of the Symposium

Conceptual Activism: Engaging Queerly in Conflictual Times

This symposium explores the possibilities and limitations of conceptual activism. What does it mean to engage in politics through concepts? Does ‘conceptual’ imply that this kind of activism has less practical relevance or lacks material power? To what extent do concepts imply embodied practices and material relations? Which concepts are interesting from queer and trans theoretical and political perspectives?

The focus is on how the dynamics of queering and transing, or intersectional, decolonial practices, challenge the separation of academia, art, and activism. Inspired by Davina Cooper’s work, conceptual activism is seen as a way of imagining otherwise, involving the materialization and embodiment of concepts. Bringing marginalized concepts into practice can help to create alternative futures.

In today’s conflictual times, when the risks and dangers posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, and extractivist racial capitalism are often overlooked, with authoritarian politics and regimes acting as the driving force behind these issues, the symposium interrogates conceptual activism as a counter-hegemonic ontology and epistemology. The objective is to fight the normalization of material, symbolic and epistemic violence as modus operandi in everyday life and doing politics. The question is: Can queering and transing as a dynamic interweaving of power and desire advance trans*versal justice and sustain critical movements against domination?

Venue

ICI Berlin
(Click for further documentation)

With

Aylon Cohen
Gergana Mineva
Yv Nay
Asmae Ourkiya
Alexandra Papademetriou
Rubia Salgado
Ferdiansiyah Thajib
Sifen Wibell
Fer Nogueira
Rafael Baioni
Antke Antek Engel
Sagniquee Banerjee
Karolina (kasu keys) Heck
Friederike (Fred) Landau-Donnelly
Samu/elle Striewski