Creativity and Social Engagement: Christus Nóbrega’s activism in art

This masterclass explores the role of art and creativity as catalysts for activism and social transformation. Christus Nóbrega’s practice transcends boundaries between art, politics, and culture, fostering dialogues with the Brazilian presidency and Supreme Court to reflect on urgent social and political issues. His work will serve as a starting point for discussions and hands-on activities, where participants will create poetic social actions—artistic interventions that respond to contemporary challenges or personal concerns. These actions merge artistic expression with social engagement, harnessing creativity as a tool to question, provoke, and inspire change.

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to articulate the role of art in socially engaged actions and its potential for collaboration across different fields of knowledge.

This workshop is offered as part of the SoCIETIE Initiative of the McCusker Institute at the Australian National University, in collaboration with the Scaffolding Cultural Co-Creativity Project and the Global South Visiting Fellowship funded by the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences. Participation is welcome for SoCIETIE Initiative students, other students and staff of the ANU and the general public. 

About Christus Nobrega

Christus Nóbrega is an artist and professor at the Department of Visual Arts (VIS) at the University of Brasília (UnB). His multidisciplinary practice spans photography, video, performance, installation, and new technologies, exploring the intersections between art, politics, and culture. He coordinated UnB’s Distance Learning Program in the Amazon, where he developed an artist residency fostering exchanges between artists and local communities. His work has been exhibited in major institutions in Brazil, and in 2024, he was commissioned by the Brazilian Presidency to create the official gift for Chinese President Xi Jinping. His works are part of collections such as Fondation Cartier (Paris), CAFA (Beijing), and the National Museum (Brasília). Twice nominated for the PIPA Prize (2017, 2019)—Brazil’s most prestigious contemporary art award—he represented Brazil in China (2015) and Australia (2019) through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Artistic Residency Program. Currently, he is sponsored at ANU by the CASS Global South Visiting Fellowship and supported by the Associate Dean (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access). He is also collaborating with Maya Haviland on the Scaffolding Cultural Co-Creativity project, exploring tools, methods, and pedagogical approaches to support co-creative practices.

Location:

Seminar room, Chancelry Building (10T1), ANU, Canberra. Located between Fellows Oval and Ellery Crescent Wheelchair accessible via ramp on the south side of the building Map and directions