2024
RESEARCH: Antidiskrimationsmodelle im Museum / Anti-discrimination models in the museum (ongoing)
The paper examines the racist and imperialist dimensions of common exhibition practices, particularly the role of the White Cube, which, according to Mimi Gellman, functions as an instrument of Western hegemony by erasing Indigenous stories and colonial histories. Building on Hito Steyerl’s call for a new, non-Eurocentric approach to exhibition practices and Adolfo Albán Achinte’s decolonial aesthetics, the aim is to achieve a more appropriate representation of art. Additionally, Fred Moten’s and Stefano Harney’s concepts of the “Undercommons” and the “Uncommons” are explored, focusing on alternative forms of community and resistance against oppressive structures, as well as the promotion of radical inclusion, solidarity, and diversity. These approaches are also intended to be applied within museum contexts.
MASTER THESIS: White Cube Critique – Eine Analyse des Konzepts und dessen Gegenmodelle am Beispiel des Centre Pompidou / White Cube Critique – An analysis of the concept and its counter-models using the example of the Centre Pompidou
The master’s thesis examines the construction of the white cube in the European museum landscape and analyses its development from the Renaissance to the 20th century. The debates surrounding the white cube, such as its sacred aura, elitism, and spatial demarcation, are critically analysed. Three exhibitions at the Centre Pompidou, which pursue alternative concepts and offer a broader spectrum, serve as counter-examples. The work utilises Mieke Bal and Jana Scholze’s cultural semiotics as a methodological approach to analyse communication processes and meaning content in a museum context. Text-based materials and visual sign systems are employed for this purpose. Simon Sheikh’s curatorial research approach highlights the active role of curators in shaping exhibitions as sites of critical reflection and questioning the neutrality of the white cube. The analysis aims to enhance our comprehension of art presentation development and explore alternative presentation forms.
Language: German. Pages: 135.
ESSAY: Antisemitische Ideologien der Wanderausstellung Entartete Kunst / Anti-Semitic ideologies of the touring exhibition Degenerate Art
This work examines Nazi exhibition practices using the example of the “Degenerate Art” exhibition. The focus is on analyzing the antisemitic ideologies that underpinned the traveling exhibition (1937–1941). By exploring the exhibition’s design, spatial arrangement, and the propagandistic portrayal of modern art—particularly that of Jewish and Bolshevik artists—this study demonstrates how the Nazis framed modern art as a threat to German culture, creating an enemy image. The analysis highlights the use of antisemitic visual language and deliberate distortion and defamation to convey ideological messages and mobilize the public against so-called “degenerate” art.
Language: German. Pages: 10.
SEMINAR WORK: Luis Buñuels “Belle de Jour” (1967): Analyse des männlichen Blicks in Bezug auf Laura Mulveys Manifest / Luis Buñuel’s ‘Belle de Jour’ (1967): Analysing the male gaze in relation to Laura Mulvey’s manifesto
This seminar paper analyses the application of Laura Mulvey’s feminist film theory to Luis Buñuel’s film Belle de Jour. The paper compares the male gaze in the film with Mulvey’s manifesto ‘Visual Pleasure And Narrative Cinema’. To what extent does the portrayal of the female protagonist in ‘Belle de Jour’ align with Laura Mulvey’s manifesto on visual desire and narrative structure? This analysis examines the narrative structure and visual staging of Séverine, with a focus on her erotic dreams and masochistic behaviour as a source of erotic excitement. The film examines the interplay between sadism and masochism, depicting Séverine’s fantasies as a form of compensation for her sexless and sterile life. Séverine’s construction of her female identity is influenced by subtle power dynamics. This text reveals clear parallels in terms of content. Belle de Jour includes several narrative sequences that transform the protagonist into an erotic object, fragmenting or subjugating her.
Language: German. Pages: 17.
2023
ARTISTIC RESEARCH: Schatten/ Fotogramme / Shadows/ Photograms (unfinished)
The seminar work begins with a study of Victor I. Stoichita’s A Short History of the Shadow, in which he explores the profound significance of the shadow in art, culture and history. The book characterizes the shadow as both an artistic element and a metaphor for the mysterious and subconscious aspects of human experience. Expanding its exploration to include photography and film, the text discusses innovative approaches by artists such as Hessam Samavatian, who uses plaster and photosensitive emulsion as a medium for autobiographical recording, as well as László Moholy-Nagy , Hans Kupelwieser, Man Ray and Bronisław Schlabs, whose striking photograms redefine photography without the use of traditional cameras. It critically analyses how these artists incorporate shadows as a central element in their photographic works. The text also provides a historical background, mentioning William Henry Fox Talbot, who placed shadows at the centre of his photographic experiments.
Language: German. Pages: 19.
SEMINAR WORK: Commons & Uncommons. Eine multidimensionale Analyse der Mensch-Natur-Beziehungen und der sozialen Gerechtigkeit / Commons & Uncommons. A multidimensional analysis of human-nature relations and social justice
This paper explores the concepts of commons and uncommons as formulated by researchers such as Silvia Federici, Arturo Escobar, Marisol de la Cadena, Mario Blaser, Ferreira da Silva and others. This includes an in-depth examination of the policies and their effects based on postcolonial and critical theoretical perspectives, addressing the following questions: “To what extent can the concepts of commons and uncommons contribute to tackling racial inequalities and environmental challenges?”. The main research objective is to examine the capacity of commons and uncommons to address social inequality and environmental crises, particularly in the context of appropriation, colonialism and capitalism, and it can be said that commons, uncommons and the pluriverse represent a critical counterpart to the discourses on the One World and the Anthropocene by emphasising power dynamics, colonial legacies and the need for a more inclusive and context-specific approach.
Language: German. Pages: 21.
SEMINAR WORK: Eine Untersuchung zur Inszenierung der Frau in Porno und Film in Bezug auf Luce Irigaray’s „Das Geschlecht das nicht ein ist.“ / An investigation into the representation of women in porn and film in relation to Luce Irigaray’s ‘This sex which is not one’
This study encompasses Gender and Women’s Studies, Media Studies, and Film Studies, relying on various research fields including philosophy, psychology, and media analysis. The research question examines how Luce Irigaray’s “This Sex Which Is Not One” applies to the portrayal of women in film and pornography. The study analyzes the Male Gaze concept in film and the genre of pornography. Addressing ongoing issues of women’s oppression, discrimination, and sexual violence, the research explores their impact on female sexuality and the body. Building on Irigaray’s text, the study investigates the portrayal of women in visual media, highlighting the sexualized and stereotypical content found in film and pornography.
Language: German. Pages: 12.
ESSAY: Zukunftsmodelle der Vergangenheit / Future models of the past
Over time, the museum expanded to include various facilities like a classroom, cinema, library, and more, transforming it into a participatory museum. Directors like Alexander Dorner, Willem Sandberg, Pontus Hultén, and Johannes Cladders further shaped the concept, making the museum a dynamic cultural center. This evolution emerged from the need for contemporary design and societal relevance, involving adjustments to fit into the social scene. This concept parallels the 1962 exhibition Dylaby, which anticipated interactive trends in art. Dylaby, stemming from the kinetic exhibition Bewogen Beweging in 1961, involved viewers and playfully engaged them in the artistic process. Earlier instances like El Lissitzky’s Cabinet of the Abstract and Hans Hollein’s Everything is Architecture exhibition also demonstrated audience involvement. These examples reflect Pontus Hultén’s model of a participatory museum, emphasizing audience engagement, the museum as a site of production, and the collection as a responsive organism.
Language: German. Pages: 7.
RESEARCH PAPER: Karen Barad – On Touching – The Inhuman That Therefore I Am (v1.1)
Karen Barad’s essay On Touching – The Inhuman that Therefore I Am (2012) explores touch as a material practice, connecting it with theories by Derrida, Aristotle, Leroi-Gourhan, and others. It critiques the notion of touch as a simple, consensual act, linking it to physics, materiality, and response-ability. Barad extends this to quantum mechanics, emphasizing “intra-action” in interactions. Touch, in both physical and digital forms, informs identity and relationships.
Language: German. Pages: 11.
RESEARCH PAPER: „Moving Backwards” (Pauline Boudry und Renate Lorenz)
“Moving Backwards” by Pauline Boudry and Renate Lorenz (2019) explores resistance through dance, urban movement, and queer culture. The installation incorporates backward movement and reversed visuals to challenge time, space, and identity. It critiques political regression, using symbols like reversed shoes and references to global struggles.
Language: German. Pages: 5.
2022
SEMINAR WORK: Orale Sinnlichkeit in Kunst und Film / Oral sensuality in art and film
This study draws on art, cultural studies, sociology and psychoanalysis to explore the relationship between sexual desire and food consumption. The main research question is how food is used as a stimulant in action art and film. Performances by artists such as Ben Patterson, Meret Oppenheim and the films of Adrian Lyne and Marco Ferreri will be analysed. Psychoanalytic perspectives, particularly the work of Freud, Abraham and Rath, illuminate the connection between food and sexuality, which goes back to the infant’s oral phase.
Research shows that food functions as a stimulant in many ways: It combines sexual and culinary aspects, exhibits erotic-cannibalistic traits and serves as a metaphor for foreplay. Examples such as Festin de printemps and Lick Piece depict food on a naked body, evoking the desire for incorporation, with oral and cannibalistic undertones. The importance of food in shaping form and meaning is central to these cases. In 9 1⁄2 Weeks, the oral cavity has strong sexual connotations, evoking fellatio and symbolic vagina references. In La Grande Bouffe, gluttony and lust intertwine, highlighting the fusion of culinary pleasure and sexual desire.
Language: German. Pages: 24.
SEMINAR WORK: Das Höllenfeuer. Eine Untersuchung der Geschichte des Feuers im infernalen Jenseits / Infernal fire. An investigation into the history of fire in the infernal afterlife
This seminar paper delves into the cultural-historical evolution of the concept of hell, particularly its connection with fire. The study draws on a wide array of fields, including cultural history, psychology, theology, and mythology. Its goal is to understand how the association of fire with hell became prevalent in European tradition. Through analyzing key works by authors like Herbert Vorgrimler, Rolf Kaufmann, Georges Minois, and Scott Gordon Bruce, the research examines the development that led to fire’s central role in the European perception of hell. In the Christian context, fire is emblematic of discipline and judgment, signifying punishment for sinners in the afterlife. This punitive symbolism serves to evoke fear and discourage sinful behavior. The paper suggests that the roots of the fiery hell concept can be traced back to ancient beliefs in the underworld and the Jewish concept of Gehenna. This notion of hellfire is then explored through Christian apocalyptic writings and elaborated upon by various scholars. The enduring presence of hellfire in art and iconography underscores its significance in contemporary thought.
Language: German. Pages: 24.
RESEARCH PAPER: Danh Vo
The artistic output of Danh Vo is significantly informed by a number of key concepts, including those of displacement, sexual identity and cultural fragments. The work investigates the themes of migration, self-definition and belonging. This text examines the installation titled Il Palazzo Enciclopedic, which was exhibited at the 2013 Venice Biennale and comprises two principal works. One piece was derived from a Catholic church in Vietnam that was reconstructed using the original materials, which date back two hundred years. The second piece, entitled Christmas (Rome), employed the use of faded velvet to create ghostly silhouettes of religious artefacts. Using light-induced imprints, it reflects on Georges Didi-Huberman’s ideas of visible and invisible, transformation, and the relationship between touch, distance, and memory.
Language: German. Pages: 5.
RESEARCH PAPER: Installationskunst von Do Ho Suh / Installationart by Do Ho Suh
The art of Do Ho Suh focuses on the themes of space, transition, and memory, often using doors and gates as central motifs. In Hub-1 (2018), Suh recreates the entrance and foyer of his childhood home in Seoul using polyester fabric and stainless steel. In Reflection (2004), Suh creates two mirrored gates from translucent fabric and metal frames, referencing a gate from his family home. This work explores the psychological and emotional dimensions of home, with the two gates acting as mirrored reflections, blurring the boundaries between reality and memory. Suh’s works often investigate nomadism, belonging, and the concept of home. The use of textile as a medium allows him to challenge the permanence of architecture and the concept of “home” by suggesting that both are flexible, adaptable, and transient.
Language: German. Pages: 7.
2021
BACHELOR’S THESIS: Kommunikation in der bildenden Kunst. Selbstmarketing via Instagram am Beispiel zeitgenössischer junger Künstler*innen / Communication in the visual arts. Self-marketing via Instagram using the example of contemporary young artists
In the evolving landscape of the visual arts profession, new expertise, cultural skills, and ongoing training have become essential. To sustain a career in art, artists now require self-management knowledge and digital communication skills for effective self-promotion. Social networks, particularly Instagram, have emerged as crucial marketing tools due to their accessibility and effectiveness. This Bachelor’s thesis in communication science explores the necessity of marketing for artists, focusing on methods employed on social networks, especially Instagram. The study delves into how artists engage in self-marketing and shape communication with their audience. Research questions address artists’ approaches to self-marketing and the communication strategies used on Instagram. The findings underline the integral role of marketing in the art world today, with various approaches taken for self-promotion and communication on the platform, all emphasizing the central role of “digital marketing.”
Language: German. Pages: 114.
SEMINAR WORK: The Role of Gender in Audiovisual Media Regulation
The research report employed a systematic approach, using various research methods such as policy analysis, to explore issues of inequality and related arguments. The study also examined policy implementations and included stakeholder and expert interviews for further insight. The research delved into media regulation and gender debates, and concluded with analyses of best practices in Europe and relevant literature.
download via: https://letstalkequal.blog/2021/03/09/the-role-of-gender-in-audiovisual-media-regulation/
Language: English. Pages: 44.
RESEARCH PAPER: Das Abbild als Souvenir der Welt / The image as a memorabilia of the world
The text presents the argument that individuals are surrounded by visual codes that shape their perception of photography. These codes, which are tied to the symbolism of a particular era, have an impact on visual communication. (cf. Barthes and Sontag) In order to illustrate this point, the text uses examples of surreal photographs by Madame d’Ora, which capture the concept of mortality and reflect a “memento mori” aesthetic.
Language: German Pages: 4.
2020
SEMINAR WORK: Der Kunstskandal als Marketinginstrument – eine qualitative Analyse provokanter Performances von Valie Export und Elke Krystufek / The art scandal as a marketing tool – a qualitative analysis of provocative performances by Valie Export and Elke Krystufek
Art scandals serve as a reflection of societal values and a guide for aesthetic and moral perspectives. They prompt us to redefine our boundaries and determine what we find acceptable. The international art market prioritizes attention-grabbing artists, often those involved in scandals, as they offer various artistic products, services, and ideas. Such scandals possess newsworthy elements that captivate the media’s interest. To explore cultural marketing, the paper focuses on two art scandals involving Valie Export and Elke Krystufek. It aims to develop a cultural marketing methodology by analyzing selected print media reports on these artists’ taboo-breaking actions. The analysis involves chronological examination and categorization using a table.
Language: German. Pages: 15.
ESSAY: Ver/speisen. Eine Annäherung an die Symboliken des Stilllebens am Beispiel des Granatapfels / Ver/speisen. An approach to the symbolism of still life using the example of the pomegranate
The essay explores the symbolic history of the pomegranate, referencing Friederich Wilhelm Basilius von Ramdohr’s 1793 statement about how colors and light affect human senses beyond sight. It discusses the transformation of a basic human need into symbolic imagery, surpassing its nutritional value. The essay also highlights the pomegranate’s origins in Persia and neighboring regions, its value predating other fruits like almond, apricot, and peach. Notably, the pomegranate held symbolic significance in antiquity, adorning tomb reliefs as an offering to Persephone, symbolizing the hope for an afterlife continuation.
Language: German. Pages: 8.