Panels
February 2025
LIA Conversations
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schneider and Welcome Mandla Lishivha at LIA © Walther Le Kon
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schneider, former Director of the University Library Leipzig, is currently conducting research in Nanjing, China. Welcome Mandla Lishivha from Johannesburg, South Africa, presented his book *Boy on the Run* during his first residency in Leipzig, Germany.
What unites these two writers is their shared commitment to literature and their dedication to fostering intercultural exchange through their professional journeys. Their diverse experiences provide the foundation for a 45-minute discussion moderated by Rolland.
May 19/21, 2025
International Conference
Identity, Ignorance,
and the Politics of the Self
Paulinerkirche Göttingen: Zhang Hanwen, Viktor Witkowski, Anna-Louise Rolland, Xu Bing and Anselm Franke
The University of Göttingen was honored to host an international conference on May 19 and 21, 2025, co-organized by Prof. Dominic Sachsenmaier (University of Göttingen) and Prof. Wang Hui (Tsinghua University). The event brought together leading voices from academia and the arts for a cross-cultural dialogue between China and the West.
Distinguished participants included world-renowned scholars and prominent figures from contemporary Chinese literature and art, such as novelist Yu Hua, essayist Mao Jian, and artist Xu Bing. Representing Germany, acclaimed writer Steffen Kopetzky contributed to the discussions.
This rare and high-level exchange was made possible through the generous support of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. The University extended a warm welcome to students, faculty, and the public to share in this exceptional occasion.
March 26, 2019
Roundtable with
Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Elke Büdenbender and Frank-Walter Steinmeier at LIA © Walther Le Kon
German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Büdenbender, visited the Spinnerei Leipzig, HALLE 14, and LIA, accompanied by Leipzig’s Mayor, Burkhard Jung, and his wife, Ayleena Jung.
At LIA, the Federal President and the Mayor took time to meet with all current LIA artists – Anastasia Warren, Bjargey Olafsdottir, Conny Karlsson Lundgren, Jordan Grant, and Tuukka Haapakorpi – to discuss their experiences in Germany and gain insight into their artistic work.
Also joining the roundtable as guests were Bettina Senf, Director of the Goethe-Institut Denmark, and artists Christiane Baumgartner and Michael Triegel.