Highlights Fine Arts

Nina Kerschbaumer, «B88 und der 180° Schwenk», project presentation, Research Day, ZHdK, November 2021
Nina Kerschbaumer, «B88 und der 180° Schwenk», project presentation, Research Day, ZHdK, November 2021

    «One of the most important things in research is to make new distinctions that challenge old distinctions or render them obsolete.»

    Prof. Christoph Schenker, Head of the Institute for Contemporary Art Research (IFCAR)
     

        Scientific, Artistic and Creative Output and Impact

        In 2021, IFCAR researchers published two publications and one card set. This output resulted from successfully completed SNSF research projects and reflect our international artistic and scientific network.

        → Overview «Scientific, Artistic and Creative Output and Impact»

          Promotion of Talents and Careers

          The DFA’s new pre/doc programme, launched in 2021, began in the summer and currently involves eight arts students from Italy, Germany, Estonia, Denmark, United Kingdom/South Korea, Mexico and Switzerland. Under the close supervision of Dr. Marcel Bleuler, Laura von Niederhäusern and various guest lecturers, students conceptualise a practice-related PhD project and qualify for a doctorate at the DFA.

          → Overview «Promotion of Talents and Careers»

            Cooperation and Internationality

            In recent years, IFCAR has developed a strong international orientation, both with its own ventures (e.g. the «Draft» project, since 2014; or the «InOctober» network, since 2016) and within the framework of cooperation-based SNSF research projects (e.g. knowbotiq, Prof. Dr. Nils Röller, Prof. Dr. Felix Stalder, Prof. Hannes Rickli). Its increasing internationalisation is helping IFCAR to access new research fields.

            → Overview «Cooperation and Internationality»

              External Funding

              The high proportion of third-party funding of just under CHF 680'000 in 2021 reflects the high quality of IFCAR research. Two new research projects (both funded by the SNSF) launched in 2021: «Latent Spaces: Performing Ambiguous Data» (directed by Prof. Dr. Felix Stalder) and «Listening to Data Flows: How art and biology bring the environment into the computer» (directed by Prof. Hannes Rickli). 

              → Overview «Research Projects»

                Event Highlight

                In December 2021, IFCAR hosted a sixfold book launch in Stall 6 at Gessnerallee where the volumes published in the IFCAR’s book series since 2020 were presented. The event made up for various opportunities missed due the pandemic to discuss these publications with an internal and external audience.

                The Fragmented City, exhibition in public space, Berlin, Jannowitzbrücke, 28. Oktober 2021

                  Reading Tip

                  Published in 2021, Aesthetics of the Commons explores a range of artistic and cultural projects that can be broadly described as (post)digital. The anthology relates to the broader concept of commons and raises questions about the nature of the aesthetics embodied therein. The volume was published on the occasion of a completed IFCAR research project addressing these issues. It was edited by Shusha Niederberger, Dr. Cornelia Sollfrank and Prof. Dr. Felix Stalder and published by Diaphanes.

                  Book cover «Aesthetics of the Commons»