The art research book In the Absence of Bombs: Art, War, and Silence (2026), produced by the Antwerp Research Institute for the Arts (ARIA), is currently undergoing a...
Following initial presentations in Antwerp, Belgium, and Amsterdam, Netherlands, the publication is scheduled for appearances in Kyiv, Ukraine.
In Kyiv, the book will be featured at Book Arsenal, which is recognized as one of the major literary and cultural festivals in Eastern Europe.
The art research book In the Absence of Bombs: Art, War, and Silence (2026), produced by the Antwerp Research Institute for the Arts (ARIA), is currently undergoing a series of international presentations across Europe and Asia.
Following initial presentations in Antwerp, Belgium, and Amsterdam, Netherlands, the publication is scheduled for appearances in Kyiv, Ukraine. Seoul, South Korea; and Naples, Italy.
In Kyiv, the book will be featured at Book Arsenal, which is recognized as one of the major literary and cultural festivals in Eastern Europe. In Seoul, the work will be the subject of a lecture at the Leeum Museum, cited as one of the most important art museums in South Korea.
Dispaccio bookstore Naples
The tour also includes a presentation in Naples at Dispaccio, an independent bookstore known within the sector for its specialization in art, theory, and critical publishing.
Edited by Pacal Gielen and Bahia Shehab, the research explores the intersection of art and conflict, specifically examining the reactions of various institutions and individuals during times of war.
The book investigates the phenomenon of institutional and artistic hesitation when faced with violence.
According to the text of the book:
What happens when violence unfolds before our eyes, yet responses hesitate and waver? When institutions—political, academic, cultural—retreat into silence, and even committed artists falter in the face of war?
Spheres of Meaning: An Exhibition of Artists' Books| Art Loft 807 Segment
In the Absence of Bombs: Art, War, and Silence (eds. Pacal Gielen & Bahia Shehab)
The publication and the broader series titled “Arts in Society” have received support from CIMAM, the international professional committee for museums and collections of modern and contemporary art.
CIMAM maintains a connection to ICOM, the International Council of Museums. ICOM is the largest international museum network in the world, representing more than 57,000 museum art professionals globally.
In an update published May 24, 2026, contributor Emily Van Driessen confirmed that the entire “Arts in Society” series is slated for translation into Dutch.
