Body Count

Nico Heller in Conversation with the artist André Stitt.

This episode of Annotations features André Stitt, an artist whose life and work have been profoundly shaped by the Northern Ireland Troubles. The dialogue explores the intersection of materiality, social dynamics, and identity in contemporary human experience - central themes in André's work.

We examine how physical structures and the built environment shape personal and communal narratives, reflecting on André's investigation of trauma, sectarianism, and the body. Through his deeply personal insights, we consider art as a transformative and redemptive force in the face of political and social upheaval.

Born in Belfast in 1958, André's practice initially evolved from painting to performance art as a direct response to civil conflict, before returning to painting as an expanded proposition in 2013. Now Professor of Performance & Interdisciplinary Art at Cardiff School of Art & Design, André has also curated numerous international projects, solidifying his position as one of Northern Ireland's most influential artists.

Further information about André and his work is available via Cardiff Metropolitan University. To ensure you never miss an Annotations Dialogue, do subscribe to our YouTube channel and our newsletter at annotations.art. If you are already a free subscriber and like what we do, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription.