image by Carolyn Defrin (digital collage) & Joey Galanos (water color)
portals to the future
two interconnected installations for humane migration futures
8-18 October, 2026
presented as part of the steirischerherbst 2026 Festival Partner Programme
Graz, Austria
DOORS TO THE FUTURE
Originally created with people impacted by border regimes on the Greek island of Samos, these 5 audio artworks imagine humane futures through relationships to ourselves, each other, repair, nature and time.
Discover them at ‘listening stations’ across Graz,
Scan the QR codes and listen to the future!
8-18 October
24/7
Led by Carolyn Defrin in collaboration with Joey Galanos, Ezedin Petros, Melina Papageorgiou, Alexia-Maria Yiakkoupi, Donata Naruse and Zen Chrysakis
PAST PORTALS
TO FUTURE WORLDS
A series of 32 multimedia artworks created with artists and researchers in Graz and across the globe, invite you to envision multiple futures informed by listening to music from the past and taking photographs of portals in the present.
ReSoWi Zentrum, E Block (ground floor)
Universitätsstrasse 15, University of Graz
M-F: 8h - 22h; Saturdays: 8h - 14h
Led by Carolyn Defrin in collaboration with Ada Güvenir, Adriana Vega Pérez, Alshikh Albadri, Angelika Adensamer, Anna-Maria Takaliou, Artemis Fyssa, Ben Lobpries, Carlotta Bonura, Charlie Yves Ngoudji Tameko, Christian Diego Diego, Danielle Alhassid, Danko Simić, Dave Danelo, Elena Marchevska, Eva Bauer, Fanni Kendli, Francesca Neyroz, Ihtsham Khan, J. Hirogwan, Jonathan Cortez, Laura Jung, Laura Montanari, León Troya, Leonardo Pasqui, Marlene Anzenberger, Mirco Buoso, Obase Moiti, Renate Ortlieb, Anonymous, Valeria Muzio, Yorgos Petsas
Public events
Opening Talk & Reception 8 Oct, 18h
Universitätsstrasse 15, University of Graz
ReSoWi Zentrum, SZ 15.22, G Block (2nd floor)
Carolyn Defrin discusses the artistic research undertaken during her Marie Curie Fellowship at the University of Graz leading to PORTALS TO THE FUTURE.
Developed in collaboration with the NOMIS-funded research project “Elastic Borders: Rethinking the Borders of the 21st Century,” the evening includes a talk and discussion with project lead Prof. Dr. Bilgin Ayata, researcher Dr. Artemis Fyssa, doctoral researcher Mirco Buoso, and participating artist, Ihtisham Kahn.
A tour of the two installations follows with a reception.
Register by email: carolyn.defrin[at]uni-graz.at
Public Walking Tour 16 oct, 14:30-16:00
Meeting place: Griesgasse 40, finishing at Forumstadtpark
As part of Forumstadtpark’s Conference: Contemporary Fascism and Possibilities for Resistance, Carolyn Defrin leads a walking tour of the 'Doors to the Future' audio installation. Stopping at different listening stations across Graz, participants will have a chance to listen to each of the five audio futures originally made on the Greek island of Samos, and reflect on their resonances with migration and border histories in Graz.
Register by email: carolyn.defrin[at]uni-graz.at
find the listening stations
listen to the futures
click on each image below to listen and learn more
Learn more
'Doors to the Future' and 'Past Portals to Future Worlds' were originally created as part of 'BORDER ART',
a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Fellowship,
led by Dr Carolyn Defrin in collaboration with the NOMIS Research project “Elastic Borders: Rethinking the borders of the 21st Century”
University of Graz
![SH-Wordmark-2026[1][1][1][1][1][1].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/83f7e7_abd164d3e7d546b28d6a6fe6d6ff54cb~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_191,h_14,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/SH-Wordmark-2026%5B1%5D%5B1%5D%5B1%5D%5B1%5D%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.png){kind=small}