With deep sadness we mourn the passing of our dear friend and Phd fellow, Marion von Osten.

Marion's brilliant mind, infectious enthusiasm and warm heart inspired us throughout our seminar sessions from 2013-2018. We are struggling to reconcile with losing her wonderful presence, in which she was always so fully present. 

Continuously in the making, she tirelessly contributed to decolonizing cultural production by generating knowledge on site, addressing inhabitants as experts, questioning the idea of 'study', official representations and the role of an artist. Her incisive questions and gregarious laughter were as influential as her transversal practice, which included exhibition making, writing, teaching and the creation of several extensive collaborative platforms. Her endless curiosity led her to investigate and operate within the fields of feminism, theories of labor, knowledge production, pedagogy and post-coloniality, often all at the same time.

More than the invaluable insight she brought to our individual projects, which we will be forever grateful for, Marion altered the composition of our seminar table exchanges. Through her rigorous interrogations, the manner in which she decentered artistic production and exhibition making strategies opened new pathways for what artistic research is and can be. Her doctoral thesis, 'In the Making', did the same.

Marion was always steps ahead of our time. We were very privileged to experience her work and thinking so closely in our seminars. She left us with a wealth of knowledge and structures to continue to build on that we are grateful for. We will be catching up with her for some time.

Our thoughts are with her partner Peter Spillmann and her many friends and collaborators. 

Marion will be deeply missed.

/Rosa Barba, Imogen Stidworthy, Alejandro Cesarco, Andrea Ray, Lea Porsager, Gertrud Sandqvist and Sarat Maharaj.