Bettina Schülke’s doctoral thesis suggests that we are in the need to develop new spatial concepts. Therefore, it focuses on how space can be understood in visual artistic expression and how previous spatial understandings are in the process of change. The common ground of the different findings of this research is that the development of technology and new technical media has an enormous influence on the question of spatiality. This implements how space is understood, constructed, inhabited, and perceived.
As one of the theoretical outcomes can be seen the concept of hybrid spatial realties, which arises when different spatial concepts overlap or merge, or interact with each other.
“My specific interest in these topics are their impact on the understanding of contemporary art movements, new artistic production methods and on aesthetics in modern society. An interdisciplinary approach characterizes this practice-based research whose foundation is formed by the creative artistic process and the development of the artworks,” Schülke notes.
Three artistic projects, TRANSACTIONs 1-3, explore the notion of an extended sense of space. A variety of artistic media served to examine the research topic from various artistic perspectives.
“During the research process appeared the findings of the in-between spaces. They can be identified as an extended sense of space. Furthermore, they can appear as element inside the artworks, or can be see as the spaces of knowledge production,” Schülke says.
The second focus of research investigates the relation between space and textiles. This topic is discussed on the basis of smart textiles, explores the relation between textiles and technology and investigates them as a form of new materialism.
“In relating textiles to space, I move beyond their traditional connection and I am suggesting that smart textiles would have the capacity to become another form of interface. Consequently, the textile–space relationship can be seen in another dimension. Smart textiles could have the potential to create a new form of space, which essentially leads an altered understanding of our environment,” Schülke says.
At the same time, Schülke’s aim was to point out the common roots of the textile industry and the development of computers at the beginning of the 19th century, which led toward the first steps of modern machine language and effected essentially on todays spatial-temporal understanding.
Information on the defense:
The defense of the dissertation, TRANSACTION as INTERACTION: Art as an Extended Sense of Space, will take place in the Faculty of Art and Design on Thursday, 8th of June at 3 pm. The defense will take place at Esko and Asko -hall of the University of Lapland, Yliopistonkatu 8, Rovaniemi. The Opponent will be Professor Mauri Kaipainen from Södertörn University, Sweden, and the Custos will be Professor Eija Timonen from the University of Lapland. Welcome!
Information on the doctoral candidate:
Bettina Schülke is an interdisciplinary Austrian artist born 25th of April 1967 in St.Pölten, Lower Austria. She is working as freelancing artist and has been recurrently teaching in Finland and Austria. Schülke is working on the intersection of art, science and technology with a specific focus on textile art. She studied Textiles Gestalten, Tapestry, Natural Studies and Painting at the Akademie der bildenden Künste, Wien, AT; and at the Faculty of Art and Design, department for Media Studies at the University of Lapland. She has exhibited widely and extensively, worked on international collaborative projects, participated in conferences, workshops, festivals and events.
Additional information:
Bettina Schülke
bettina.schuelke (at) gmail.com
Tel. 0043 676 738 50 38
bettinaschuelke.at
Sale of the dissertation: verkkokauppa Juvenes. Further information and press release copies are available at the Lapland University Press, phone: +358 40 821 4242, email: julkaisu (at) ulapland.fi
Information on the publication:
Bettina Schülke: TRANSACTION as INTERACTION: Art as an Extended Sense of Space. Acta Universitatis Lapponiensis 348. Lapland University Press. Rovaniemi. 2017. ISBN (paper format) 978-952-484-990-6, ISSN 0788-7604. Web version (pdf): Acta electronica Universitatis Lapponiensis. 214. ISBN 978-952-484-991-3, ISSN 1796-6310