The elegance of world-building: aesthetics and possibility

We invite you to the lecture by Italian philosopher Federico Campagna. In his talk, Campagna will focus on the concept and practice of world-building and suggest possible ways in which artists and philosophers can work side by side to invent new worlds. The event is part of the public program accompanying the show The Impermanent: Four Takes on the Collection, section Banner: Engagement, Realism, and Political Art.

Federico Campagna will explore the concept and practice of ‘world-building’, addressing questions such as: What is the difference between a ‘world’ and ‘Reality’? Are there any fundamental rules to world-building? How does the process of world-building affect our individual and political lives? Through a reinterpretation of the notions of ‘aesthetics’ and ‘elegance’, as considered through a metaphysical lens, he will suggest possible ways in which artists and philosophers can work side by side to invent new worlds.

Federico Campagna is a London-based Italian philosopher, whose work focuses on the intersections between metaphysics, cultural history and contemporary politics. He is the author of 'Otherworlds: Mediterranean lessons on escaping history' (2025), 'Prophetic Culture' (2021), 'Technic and Magic' (2018). He is Associate Fellow at the Warburg Institute, and he lectures in UK and European universities including the RCA in London and ECAL in Switzerland. He works at the Anglo-American radical publisher Verso and is the co-founder and editorial co-director of the Italian philosophy and art publisher Timeo.