Philosopher Armen Avanessian and architect Markus Miessen discuss the possibilities of ‘xeno-architecture’. Can spatial practice – by embracing alienation – open up a larger space for the unknown? By turning toward ‘what could be’, could an architecture be built that deals with today’s overwhelming complexity and global unrest?

In addition to Dorothea von Hantelmann’s opening talk and Grace Schwindts opening performance Opera and Steel – made especially for Performatik – the festival kick-off showcases performances by Hedwig Houben, Kristof Van Gestel and Heike Langsdorf, and Miet Warlop. Laure Prouvost completes the evening with an installation.

Tim Jackson explores subjects such as employment, social investment, and inequality. In addition, he explores strategies to attain ecological and financial sustainability: an essential vision for social progress.

The young Croatian philosopher, author and political activist Srećko Horvat is undoubtedly one of the leading voices of his generation. His talk starts from Fernando Pessoa’s novel The Anarchist Banker and then provides a unique theoretical insight into possible subversions in a time which is getting darker day by day.

With an annually recurring city cycle, Moussem’s Nomadic Arts Centre offers an insight into contemporary Arab societies and the dynamic of their cities. Every year, an Arab city is a guest in the capital of Europe. Over the course of this ten-day festival, guest artists, relevant thinkers and cultural players tell the story of their city through their work.

Dirk Holemans will present his latest book Vrijheid & Zekerheid (freedom and certainty) and will discuss 'the return of the Utopia' with Tine De Moor (Prof. at Utrecht University and expert in the field of commons).

Alicja Gescinska argues for a reassessment of hesitation in these polarised times, for less forcefulness and for more Socratic doubt in public and political debate.

Which new social structure are we evolving towards? Belgian cyber philosopher Michel Bauwens – who founded the P2P Foundation ten years ago – looks at contemporary practices that address the challenges of the future in the most direct way. He identifies an exponential growth of civil initiatives that experiment both locally and globally with new models and solutions. Together with the network of researchers into the emerging commons-based economy, he presents a summary of ten years of research.

Despite the extreme crises that the capitalist system has recently undergone, a post-capitalistic alternative seems more unthinkable than ever. We simply thunder on at an ever-faster pace. What we describe as ‘the left’ is breathlessly searching for ways out. New social, grassroots movements are increasingly calling for things to slow down. On the other hand, in recent years a new way of thinking about this speeding up has arisen – why not destroy capitalism using its own methods? Why not allow society to go into overdrive and pass into a new order?