Over a period of nearly five years, Lapdogs of the Bourgeoisie interrogated how class structures shape the production, presentation and reception of contemporary art. Initiated in 2006, the project asked complex, unresolved questions, such as: How does class impact who becomes an artist or curator? Can contemporary art itself be seen as a privilege of the middle classes? Twenty years on, we return to these questions and ask why class continues to be so easily overlooked in the production and presentation of art—even at a time when matters of political equality are far more prevalent than before.

11:00 Doors open

11:15 Words of welcome by Lara Khaldi, artistic director of de Appel

11:30 Introduction by Tirdad Zolghadr and Eszter Szakács, co-curators of Lapdogs of the Bourgeoisie

12:00 (Art) Workers and Solidarity: Özgür Atlagan, Sepp Eckenhaussen, Hilda Moucharrafieh (Platform BK), Alina Lupu, hosted by Eszter Szakács

The conversation with participating artists Özgür Atlagan and Alina Lupu, as well as Hilda Moucharrafieh of Platform BK and organiser Sepp Eckenhaussen looks at class divides and the ways in which it is possible to practice solidarity with workers beyond the art field. Harvest (artistic recording) by Emili Allahbeigi.

13:00 Lunch

14:00 Revisiting Lapdogs: Annika Eriksson, Chris Evans, Peter Spillmann, hosted by Eszter Szakács & Tirdad Zolghadr

How to revisit an artwork, a project, a time, a generation? Together with Peter Spillmann, partner and close collaborator of Marion von Osten (1963-2020), participating artists Annika Eriksson and Chris Evans discuss the conceptual and historiographic challenges of commemorative efforts, from gestural homages to material archives.

15:00 Goodbye to All That – possible exits from and endings to contemporary art: conversation by Natascha Sadr Haghighian and Suhail Malik, hosted by Tirdad Zolghadr

Will contemporary art ever truly confront the class divides which define it? How far has the field come and how much further can it realistically go? To chart a 25 year trajectory is also an opportunity to ask fundamental questions – and to speculatively plot new ground. Theorist Suhail Malik discusses with participating artist Natascha Sadr Haghighian.

16:00 Coffee break

16:30 Listening Session: Hassan Khan

Khan presents a selection of tracks, songs and music videos including an obscure self-portrait from Sly Stone’s last album, various iterations of early 2000s new wave Shaabi and peak Egyptian Hip-Hop from the late 2010s to discuss the conceptual and aesthetic tools that music and popular culture can offer as an antidote to the inherent neurotic anxieties of institutional contemporary art.

18:00 Nothing’s Perfect by San Keller with Renzo Martens

Christian Dior’s gold-tipped baton was used during studio tours to point out flaws in the work of his employees. For participating artist San Keller’s performance, an identical baton will be utilised by Renzo Martens who tours the premises, baton in hand.

18:30 Drinks

20:00 End

This exhibition was made possible with the generous support of: