For the First Time in Ukraine
Florentina Holzinger, an Austrian choreographer and director and one of the most influential figures in contemporary European performance, is visiting Ukraine for the first time. Her visit, taking place on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence, is organized by Kristina Kiselyovaite as part of the launch of KЇ PLATFORMA.Lab — an educational program by the NGO KЇ PLATFORMA dedicated to international exchange between the Ukrainian cultural community and leading artists from around the world.
The aim of Florentina’s first visit is to discover Ukrainian culture, meet artists, and take part in a series of events in Kyiv, Odesa, and Lviv. The visit is co-organized by the Embassy of Austria in Ukraine, Proscena, and Mystetskyi Arsenal, with the support of the Lithuanian Cultural Institute in Ukraine and Karine Mnatsakanyan.
About the Event
On August 29 at 4:00 PM, Jam Factory Art Center in Lviv will host a Q&A (artistic talk) with Florentina Holzinger — an Austrian choreographer, director, and performer, and one of the most influential figures in contemporary European performance. In 2026, she represents Austria at the 61st Venice Biennale with her project SEAWORLD VENICE.
The conversation will be moderated by Maria Bakalo — a choreographer, performer, and researcher working in contemporary dance and inclusive practices.
The event is conceived as a space for live exchange and mutual introduction. Participants will have the opportunity to:
- learn more about Florentina’s artistic practice and her approach to working with the body, risk, and performativity;
- hear about her experience at the Venice Biennale and the creation of SEAWORLD VENICE;
- discuss the themes at the core of her work — embodiment, feminist narratives, the boundaries of performance, and collectivity;
- ask questions directly;
- introduce themselves and share their own practices — the conversation is intended as a space for mutual exchange and connection.
Date and time: August 29, 2026
Event schedule:
15:00 — guided tour of the space
16:00–18:00 — artistic talk
19:00 — Music Lessons performance (optional; tickets are available here)
Location: Jam Factory Art Center, Lviv
Language: English
Participation is free of charge with mandatory registration. The number of places is limited.
Please note: Florentina Holzinger’s work addresses explicit themes, including nudity, embodiment, and extreme physicality, which may also be discussed during the event. The event is for participants aged 18 and over.
Registration deadline: August 27. Confirmation of participation, along with the exact time and location details, will be sent to the contact information provided during registration.
About Florentina Holzinger
F
lorentina Holzinger is an Austrian choreographer, director, and performer whose practice operates at the intersection of contemporary dance, theatre, circus, and performance art.
Her work explores the body as a space of freedom, control, risk, and resistance. She works with physically demanding forms of performance, incorporates elements of circus disciplines, and creates stage situations in which the body becomes not only a tool for performance but an artistic medium in its own right.
Key themes in her work include gender, sexuality, embodiment, feminism, power, vulnerability, pain and pleasure, as well as questions of who can be present on stage and how.
In 2026, Holzinger represents Austria at the 61st Venice Biennale of Arts with her project SEAWORLD VENICE.
Learn More
Ahead of the event, we recommend exploring Florentina’s artistic practice and biography:
Artist’s website:
https://neonlobster.org/florentina-holzinger
Biography and publications:
https://ropac.net/artists/286-florentina-holzinger/
Important Information
Florentina Holzinger’s work may contain nudity, explicit themes, embodiment, and scenes involving extreme physicality and risk. These topics may also be discussed during the artistic talk.
The event is for participants aged 18 and over.
Photos from Florentina Holzinger's Performances
