(Double) Inaugural lecture Ms Prof A.S. Lehmann: Cube of Wood. Material Literacy for Art History

Because artists create material objects, they experiment with materials of the most diverse kinds, from clay to software and gold to garbage, typically creating new and exciting ways of material expression and use. Consequently, art history is a field with a high degree of knowledge about materials, their characteristics, meanings, histories, agencies, and effects. This unique material knowledge of artists and art historians is not only important within the discipline, but potentially pertinent to a wide array of purposes, ranging from heritage and conservation issues to smart materials, DIY movements, ecological concerns and sustainability discourses; in short the impact of materials on cultural and social life at large. Due to the history of the discipline however, material literacy has never been structurally integrated in art historical research and teaching curricula. In doing so now, art history can make its implicit knowledge explicit and available, reach across its borders, and position art works as objects with a high societal impact. Recovering the hitherto uncharted history of material education may help to realize these goals for the future.

More information

• Inaugural lecture: Ms Prof A.S. Lehmann
• Title: Cube of Wood. Material Literacy for Art History
• Chair: Modern & Contemporary Art
• Faculty: Arts
• Register at the latest one week in advance by returning the replycard or by filling in the form on the website
• Note: this is a 'double' Inaugural Lecture together with the Inaugural Lecture of: Mr Prof A.R.W. Blühm