Philosoph und Kunsttheoretiker Henk Borgdorff an der mdw


Vortrag "Reasoning through Art – The Articulation of Embodied Knowledge in Art"


Henk BorgdorffFoto: Henk Borgdorff vor dem Hauptgebäude der mdw ©Therese Kaufmann

Wie definiert sich künstlerische Forschung heute und welche Potenziale birgt künstlerische Wissensproduktion insbesondere für Kunst- und Musikuniversitäten? Dazu holt die mdw den niederländischen Kunsttheoretiker und Professor für künstlerische Forschung in Den Haag, Henk Borgdorff, für einen Workshop und einen öffentlichen Vortrag am 23. November nach Wien.


Diskurs in der (Kunst-)Hochschulpolitik


In seinem Vortrag "Reasoning through Art – The Articulation of Embodied Knowledge in Art" setzt sich Henk Borgdorff mit den aktuellen Herausforderungen künstlerischer Forschung an (Kunst-)Hochschulen auseinander. Ausgehend von Fragen der Diskursivität, Argumentation und Methodik versucht er, einen transgressiven, inhaltlich erweiterbaren Ansatz von Arts-based Research hin zu anderen Forschungsfeldern und -ansätzen anzuregen.

Im Anschluss an den Vortrag werden Annegret Huber, Johannes Kretz, Wei-Ya Lin und Gesine Schröder mit Henk Borgdorff u.a. über ihre Sicht des derzeitigen Stellenwerts von Artistic Research an der mdw diskutieren.

  • Eröffnung: Ulrike Sych, Rektorin
  • Künstlerischer Beitrag: Rafal Zalech
  • Moderation: Annegret Huber

Der Vortrag ist bei freiem Eintritt öffentlich zugänglich.


Henk Borgdorff PlakatGrafische Gestaltung: Dorit Soltiz

Abstract zum Vortrag "Reasoning through Art. The Articulation of Embodied Knowledge in Art"


Artists in their research often make use of insights, methods and techniques, which stem from social science, humanities or technological research. There is, however, a trade deficit.

In my talk I will address three related issues that are pertinent to research in and through art: an advanced understanding of discursivity, of reasoning; the methodological relevance of material practices and things; and innovative ways of publishing art in academia.

We are not alone in academia – we have allies. It is key to the advancement of the artistic research field that we not only advertise and export our epistemological and methodological distinctiveness, but that we also join forces with others in our attempt to re-think academia.


"Artistic Research in Focus" mit Henk Borgdorff:
Reasoning through Art – The Articulation of Embodied Knowledge in Art
23. November 2015, 19.00 Uhr
Clara Schumann-Saal
Anton-von-Webern-Platz 1
1030 Wien

Biografie von Henk Borgdorff


Henk Borgdorff is a philosopher and music theorist. He studied music theory in The Hague and philosophy and sociology in Leiden. Borgdorff is professor ('lector') of Research in the Arts at the Royal Conservatoire / University of the Arts, The Hague (The Netherlands).

He was professor in Art Theory and Research at the Amsterdam School of the Arts (until 2010), visiting professor in Aesthetics at the Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts at the University of Gothenburg (until 2013), and editor of the Journal for Artistic Research (until 2015).

At the Royal Conservatoire he focuses on strengthening the research culture and infrastructure, in both the degree programmes and on faculty level. His has published widely on the theoretical and political rationale of research in the arts.

A selection is published in May 2012 as The Conflict of the Faculties: Perspectives on Artistic Research and Academia (Leiden University Press). Borgdorff is president of the Society for Artistic Research.