On 1–3 September 2011, the international conference "Art and Ritual in Late Medieval and Early Modern Northern and Central Europe" will take place in Tallinn. The event will be organised by the Institute of Art History of Estonian Academy of Arts and the Centre for Medieval Studies, Tallinn University.

The medieval as well as the early modern era were highly visual periods in which images, objects and performances played a relevant representative, communicative, and constitutive role in both secular and religious spheres of the society. Images, spaces and rituals were closely interconnected; hence, the complex study of these phenomena is essential for a better understanding of the medieval and early modern societies and people.

The interdisciplinary conference in Tallinn aims to discuss these interconnections by bringing together experts in fields of art history, cultural history, theology and church history, theatre history, anthropology, etc. Topics to be discussed include church, court and civic ceremonies, performative aspect of festivals, rituals associated with images, rituals of dying and commemoration, (self)representation of individuals and different social groups, art and architecture as means of symbolic communication.

The event is to continue the tradition of the Karling conferences, dating back to 1996. Sten Karling (1906–1987) was professor of art history at the universities of Tartu/Dorpat (1933–1940) and Stockholm (1947–1972). His main research areas were medieval and early modern art and architecture.

The opening paper will be presented on 1 September at 18.00 at the Niguliste Museum (St. Nicholas’ Church, 3 Niguliste St.). The venue for the following two conference days is Auditorium 1 of the Institute of History, Tallinn University (10 Rüütli St.). The presentations will start at 9.00 on both days.

The conference languages are English and German.

View the conference programme:

http://www.tlu.ee/?LangID=2&CatID=&action=ShowNews&NewsID=3922

Additional information:

Martin Jänes
Centre for Medieval Studies, Tallinn University
martin.janestlu.ee