CV

Current research project:

Extremes

The Extreme project aims to develop and disseminate a transformative interdisciplinary approach to studying Extreme Environments in the Arctic regions and beyond.

Extreme Environments are places where conditions are very harsh and challenging for life. These areas can be incredibly hot, cold, deep underwater, or have high levels of chemicals that most living organisms would find toxic. Examples of Extreme Environments are cold seeps and hydrothermal vents, areas on the ocean floor where fluids and gases seep out of the Earth.

The project is granted by UArctic (UA 06/2024, from 01-01-2025 to 31-12-2026) and it is a collaboration between UiT The Arctic University of Norway, (Department of Geosciences),  the University of Copenhagen (Department of Arts and Cultural Studies) and the University of Iceland Research Centre in Þingeyjarsveit.

Not only are such extreme marine environments sources of interest to current oil and gas industries, but they are also places of potential exposure to future practices of deep sea mining. Through interdisciplinary cooperation, the project will develop new ways to sense, understand and imagine the significance of these extreme marine environments in the Arctic regions and beyond.

Hydrologic Sensibilities in Fragile Ecologies

Postdoc, KU and Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2021-2023

Climate change shows that there is an urgent need to develop new and more sensitive ways of sensing and perceiving the earth. In recent years, water and aquatic environments in particular have been shown to be particularly sensitive to climate change. Earth's hydrosphere demands the utmost of our human imagination and sensibility if we are to save ourselves into a sustainable future.

Climate change indicates a shift in the relationship between human and the world in an anthropocene reality. In recent years, water and aquatic environments have been shown to be particularly sensitive developers of the man-made destruction of the earth. Studies of, for example, the history of rivers, the bleaching of coral reefs and polar melting have thus shown the potential of perceiving the earth's hydrosphere as forming its own fragile expressions that can make visible the earth's critical condition. In relation to these developers, humans must act as involved translators. If we are going to be able to do this, we must improve our abilities to perceive and experience the presences, forms, life and importance of water for the earth. In other words, we must develop our hydrological sensibility.

This research project therefore attempts, in a collaboration between art history, visual arts and marine geophysics, to develop new ways of sensing aquatic environments. The project collaborates with the marine research center CAGE in Tromsø, where it participates in research cruises in the Norwegian Sea. The aim of the voyages is to map any increased seepage of methane from gas pockets under the Arctic seabed. An increased seepage provoked by rising sea temperatures. For this, among other things, hypersensitive listening equipment is used. The journeys are attended by visual artists who work to make sense of the abstract data generated during the journeys. The marine geophysicists and visual artists who take part in the voyages share a listening sensitive approach to the earth. They are all a new kind of explorer. They are not interested in subjugating the earth as a resource for human needs, but are trying to explore a new way of being with the earth. Listening for signs from a sea and a land we depend on.

The project will contribute to writing a new type of art history. An ecoempathic art history. The project ends with the international conference 'Imagine Earth' at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Copenhagen 8-9. June 2023. The conference is open to the public.

Research fields:

Contemporary Image Theory, Media Theory, Affect Theory, Archive Theory, Modern and contemporary art, Ecocritical theory, theories of the anthropocene, curating

Teaching

Art and architecture from 1600 to contemporary art, architecture theory in general, image theory, photography, affect theory, archive theory, theory of science, methodologies of art hstory, anthropocene theory, curating.

CV

2021 - 2023: Novo Nordisk Post.doc., IKK - Institute for Arts and Cultural Studies, department of Art History, University of Copenhagen

2017 - 2020

Postdoc, Institute for Arts and Cultural Studies, department of Art History, University of Copenhagen

2014 - 2015

Associated fellow at Kolleg Forschergruppe Bildakt und Verkörperung, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin

2013 – 2016

Ph.D.-student, Institute for Arts and Cultural Studies, department of Art History

2014

Member of the national censor committee of Art History

2014 –

Co-editor of the journal of Art History ’Periskop – Forum for kunsthistorisk debat’

2010 – 2013

External lecturer, Institute for Arts and Cultural Studies, department of Art History

2011 – 2013

Teaching and communication at Louisiana Museum of modern Art

2011 – 2013

Teacher at the free art school Holbæk Kunsthøjskole

2010

Teacher at the free art school Borups Højskole

2010

Seminar on image theory at the Jutland Art Academy

2009

Candidate in Art History and Scandinavian literature at the University of Copenhagen