RESEARCH PROFILE
Lona Gaikis (*1982 Toronto, Canada) is a writer, curator, and lecturer at the the University of Vienna, the University of Art and Design in Linz, and the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna (Austria). where she offers lectures on current debates in philosophy, society, and the arts. She regularly contributes as an author to exhibition catalogs, academic journals, and anthologies (ORCID).
She obtained her doctoral degree (Dr. Phil.) in Philosophy, Art and Cultural Studies from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna in 2017. Her research focused on the “new key” in the American philosopher Susanne K. Langer and the meaning of music in artistic practice. Lona is editor of the Bloomsbury Handbook of Susanne K. Langer (2024).
Lona’s commitment to research and academia is complemented by a curatorial engagement with media art and music sub-cultures. In 2009, she founded the platform czirp czirp – experimental and sonic arts. Oscillating between sound in experimental, synesthetic formats, and media art, this project has showcased various international artists such as Aïsha Devi (CH), Bergsonist (USA/MAR), EVITCELES (BGR), Islaja (FIN), Lucas Abela (AU) and Steve Roden (USA) among many others. Further collaborations in the digital involved Jasmine Guffond and Ilan Katin (USA/AUS), Claire Tolan (ASMR audio play) or artificialmuseum.com (AR project).
Lona is philosopher of the research group PHANTOM LAB with performance artist Barbis Ruder and industrial designer Walter Lunzer (Ottobock Healthcare Products).
CURRENT PROJECTS:
COMING UP:
LECTURE | WINTER SEMESTER 2024
MUSIK UND LEBENDIGE FORM (MUSIC AND LIVING FORM)
University of Vienna, Musicology Institute.
ART PROJECT | 31. AUGUST 2024
CLUB RADIOKOJE: MACHBARE UTOPIEN (HOW TO UTOPIA)
Inspired by Yona Friedman’s Utopies réalisables, 1975 (in English, feasible utopias), the 2024 edition of CLUB RADIOKOJE at the historic pool Kongreßbad will address questions on how we can maintain a sustainable and resilient society. Form follows Community with artists: Construction Choir Collective (INTL), Das Erste Ottakringer Blockflötengewitter (AT), Kollektiv KLAUS (INTL), Lissie Rettenwander (AT) and a multiple-eyes composition by Benjamin Tomasi (AT/IT).
CONFERENCE | 2. AUGUST 2024
SUSANNE K. LANGER’S PHILOSOPHY AND LEGACY
Round Table at the XXV World Congress of Philosophy, La Sapienza University, Rome (01.-08.2024).
CONFERENCE | 24.–28. JUNE 2024
ANALYTIC PHILOSOPHY AND LIVING FORM:
THE ENTWINING OF SUSANNE K. LANGER AND ERNST CASSIRER
An interdisciplinary conference on Langer, Creativity, and American Thought held by The Susanne K. Langer Circle. Keynotes: Juliet Floyd (Boston University), Iris van der Tuin (University of Utrecht), Donald Dryden (Duke University), Robert Innis (University of Massachusetts, Lowell). Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL.
PUBLICATION | 2024
CICADA GAMES
ASMR Audio Play For One Voice and Seven Spirits by Claire Tolan. Limited print edition coming out in 2024. Graphic design: Milena Georgieva. Published by czirp czirp. With the kind support of the City Council of Vienna.
Further information:
ACADEMIC CAREER
FUTURE PROJECTS
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS