Dr Wiebke Leister
- Tutor (Research)
- Art & Design Graduate Diploma
Wiebke’s research looks at the intersection of photography, writing and theatre by way of developing a performative understanding of how movement enters the structure of the still image.
Wiebke is a German artist and researcher. She studied Photography, Typography and Media Theory at Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen and gained a PhD in Photography from the RCA in 2007.
Before joining the RCA, she was Course Leader for MA Photography at London College of Communication, University of the Arts London. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and recipient of a collaborative UAL Teaching Scholars Award. Building on methods of artistic research and experimental pedagogics, her teaching focuses on conceptual lens-based practices.
She also taught intermedial strategies and theory-practice integration at Fachhochschule Bielefeld, Folkwang Universität der Künste and The Photographers' Gallery in London.
Wiebke is an experienced Supervisor, Director of Studies and External Examiner. She has supervised several students to completion as part of her earlier roles at University of the Arts London, and continues to supervise PhD students at different colleges with specialisms in expanded portraiture, artistic research, fine art photography, lens-based media, text & image, archival image practices, intermedial installation and performance.
Gallery
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Practice
In her current role, she continues to teach out of her research into performative photography as part of encouraging an expanded understanding of transdisciplinary images practices.
Research Interests
Her research challenges the limitations of mimetic representation and individual likeness, often focusing on the human image as a canvas, a medium or an agent. Committed to interdisciplinary approaches and working in collaboration, her work seeks transformative and performative conditions of portraiture in which the image becomes a catalyst for an interplay between viewer and imaginary referent.
As an artist she works with photography, projection, performance, publication, drawing and collage. Her writing is in English and German and her written practice spans from academic papers to text-based installations.
Research Funding
2019: Frauen- und geschlechterbezogene Forschungsförderung, FH Bielefeld
2018-19: DAAD visiting professorship, FH Bielefeld / German Academic Exchange Service
2018-19: Diversity Portraiture Commission, Brasenose College, University of Oxford, UK
2015, 2017, 2018: Erasmus Staff Mobility Scheme award
2017: Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation grant
2015, 2018: Sabbatical Award, University of the Arts London
2012: TrAIN Research Associate Project Funding, Transnational Art, Identity & Nation Research Centre
2000-02: DAAD PhD scholarship, Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
Current and Recent Projects
Working across theory and practice, both my current artistic and academic research focuses on relationships of stillness and movement - more specifically on how physical movement and liveness can be expressed in and through the still photographic image. Since 2015, I have been interested in thinking about what a ‘photographic Noh’ could be, asking: How can I transpose non-representational elements from Japanese Noh Theatre into a non-naturalistic & non-mimetic understanding of photography?
Ongoing research groups include ‘The Theatre of Photography’ network and the ‘Writing Photographs’ project.
Publications, Exhibitions and Other Outcomes
Journal Papers
Leister, W. and Anderson, J. (2019): ‘The Theatre of Photography: an interdisciplinary duologue / Le Théâtre de la Photographie: un dialogue interdisciplinaire’. Revue Sens-Public (online).
Leister, W. and Anderson, J. (2018): ‘The Theatre of Photography: Dialogues’, Photography & Culture, 11(2), pp.121-138.
Leister, W. and Anderson, J. (2018) ‘Pro-Photographic Gestures’, Photography & Culture, 11(2), pp.237-243.
Leister, W. (2017): ‘Echoes and Afterlives’, Photography & Culture, 10(1), pp.85-94.
Leister, W. (2014): ‘Photography In‐the‐Round: Gerhard Richter’s ’48 Portraits’, 1972 and 1998’, Photographies, 7(2), pp.217-246.
Leister, W. (2011): ‘Ever After’, Visual Communication, 10(3), pp.401-418.
Leister, W. (2010): ´Mona Lisa on a Bad Day, Or: The Impossibility of Neutrality and the Non-Likeness of Photographic Portraiture´, Photography & Culture, 3(2), pp.153-174.
Leister, W. (2008): ´Performing Laughter´, About Performance, 8, pp.209-228.
Book Chapters
Leister, W. (2022): ‘Duchenne´s Frontispiece and the Photographic Double-Portrait’. In: T. Bartsch, R. Bockmann, P. Pasieka, J. Röll, eds: Factuality and Utilization of Early Photography, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, pp.225-241.
Leister, W. (2017): ‘Photographic Installation Strategies En-Bloc and In-the-Round’. In: P. Meecham, ed: A Companion to Modern Art. Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell, pp.187-207.
Leister, W. (2014): ‘The Whitened Face as a Visual Gap; Thoughts and Methods’. In: L. Michael and S. Schulz, eds: Unsettling Whiteness; Oxford: Inter-Disciplinary Press, pp.3-10.
Leister, W. (2009): ‘Apropos Laughter in Photography´. In: M. Deppner, ed: Fotografie im Diskurs performativer Kulturen, Heidelberg: Kehrer, pp.52-67.
Leister, W. (2003): ‘Ethik im fotografischen Menschenbild´. In: K. Becker, E.-M. Engelen, M. Vec, eds: Ethisierung – Ethikferne. Berlin: Akademie Verlag, pp.160-175.
Books
Leister, W. (2023): Echoes & Callings: A Hannya Manifesto, Sharon Kivland (ed), London: Ma Bibliothèque.
Leister, W. (2016): Echoes and Afterlives, Fieldstudy 22. London: Photography and the Archive Research Centre.
Leister, W. (2008): Lovers, Liars and Laughter, Fieldstudy 11. London: Photography and the Archive Research Centre.
D. Langer and M. Burkert, eds: Theatherszene Jahrbuch Köln 2001. Cologne: M7 Verlag & Sk-Stiftung, pp.1,7-14,50-59,77-85,99-105,121-127,142-152,226 (photographic chapters)
Exhibitions & Performances
(2020): Singapore International Photography Festival.
(2019): 100 Jahre DFA – 1000 Wirklichkeiten. Haus der Photographie, Deichtorhallen Hamburg, Germany.
(2019): Ultimate Questions of Life, the Universe, and Everything. Artists Unlimited, Bielefeld, Germany.
(2018): Echoes and Callings (with David Toop and Yukihiro Isso).
Kings Place, London.
(2018): Ar(t)chaeology; Intersections of Photography and Archaeology. Nicosia Municipal Art Centre, Cyprus.
(2018): Echoes and Callings. White Conduit Projects, London.
(2016): Echoes and Afterlives (with David Toop and Emi Watanabe). Kings Place, London.
(2016): Echoes and Transformations (with NaoKo TakaHashi and Kaho Asoh), White Conduit Projects, London.
(2010): The Skinned City, Guest Projects, London.
(2009): Seen but not Heard. Centre for the Arts, Hereford.
(2009): Ever After. Elephant and Castle roundabout, London.
(2008): Lovers, Liars and Laughter (with Kenneth Gilbert). Institute of Contemporary Arts, London.
(2008): Visual Leader 2008. Haus der Photographie, Deichtorhallen, Hamburg, Germany.
(2008): Family Archives Lost and Found. Communication Space, Prague, Czech Republic.
(2008): Hals über Kopf. Galleria Rajatila, Tampere, Finland.
(2007): Ost Property. Danielle Arnaud, London.
(2007): 1+1=3; Collaboration in Recent British Portraiture. Australian Centre of Photography, Sydney, Australia.
(2006): 1+1=3; Collaboration in Recent British Portraiture. Fremantle Arts Centre, Australia.
(2003): Laughing in the Face of the Enemy. Goethe Institut, London
External Collaborations
Advisory Board, JAWS: Journal of Arts Writing by Students
Board of Directors, Photofusion
UAL Steering Group, Shared Campus
Convener, UAL Interdisciplinary Practice Research Forum
London College of Communication, College Research Committee, UAL
Core member, Photography and the Archive Research Centre, UAL
Co-organiser, Photography and the Contemporary Imaginary Research Hub, UAL
Techne consortium, PhD Peer Review College member
Conferences and events organised for: Tate Modern, Kings Place London, National Portrait Gallery, The Photographers' Gallery, ICA London, Photofusion London, University of Applied Science Bielefeld, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie Cologne, Marta Herford, Filmhaus Bielefeld, Czech Centre London, Zabludowicz Collection, College Art Association New York, Photomeetings Luxembourg,
Curatorial internships at Museum Folkwang Essen, Ruhrlandmuseum Essen, Fotomuseum im Münchner Stadtmuseum, Victoria & Albert Museum London