Figurations of Transition

The arts, humanities, and sciences may be regarded as fields in which reflection on life in its broadest sense takes place—but also, more specifically, as domains in which practitioners reflect on the conditions and possibilities of their own work.

The focus area FIGURATIONS OF TRANSITION explores thresholds and dynamics between life and death, the individual and the collective, art and life. It focuses on forms and figures of transitoriness in the arts and in cultural imaginaries, tracing key stations in a cultural history of creation and destruction, beginnings and endings.

FIGURATIONS OF TRANSITION is conceived as an open network of researchers, artists, and teachers from the University of Salzburg and the Mozarteum University. Together, we work across disciplines and faculties to develop formats that bring scholarship and the arts into productive dialogue.

Proposals for events that engage with the thematic focus of the programme are welcome at any time. We regard such initiatives as developmental projects, and expect openness in discussion and flexibility in planning from our collaborators—particularly as regards the integration of scholarly and artistic dimensions. The programme’s directors decide on project realisation; further planning takes place in close consultation.

Ideally, proposals should be submitted 6–12 months in advance.

If a publication is planned in connection with an event, it should appear in the FIGURATIONS OF TRANSITION series published by Sonderzahl. Responsibility for securing funding lies with the volume editors.

Image credit: Hans Pollhammer, untitled (Ahoi), acrylic on canvas, 2008, detail

Teaching at the focus area Figurations of Transition is closely linked to research and artistic practice: conferences, workshops, lectures and exhibition projects are often integrated into teaching. Students are thus involved in the exchange between research and artistic practice. Teaching, research and education are in a constant interaction.
Our focus area is supported by scholars and artists from the Mozarteum University and the University of Salzburg, the so-called ‘core group’. Its members come from the visual and performing arts as well as from literature, cultural studies and the arts. They organize events at the focus area and teach courses.

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