Eugenia Fratzeskou
Visiting Lecturerat University of WestminsterDr Eugenia Fratzeskou (b.1979, Athens, Greece) - Visual artist, lecturer, author, editor, advisor and critic (London).
- Expertise & Qualifications -
Pioneering types and processes of digital site-specific art and drawing have been the outcomes of her research leadership of highly successful international research projects with artists, architects and computer scientists since 2000. Eugenia has advanced a wider discourse on digital visualisation systems and virtual environments in site-specific, digital media art and architecture, through inventing methodologies for mapping the invisible inter-passages between virtual and actual architectural spaces within new types of site-specific virtual environments. She has created new relationships between art, architecture, philosophy, computer science and virtual reality. Her expertise expands into the relationship between symbolic logic, Boolean set operations, algebraic, geometrical processes, VR, built architecture and cosmology. Her qualifications include: AHRC-funded practice-based PhD in digital art and spatial praxis (Visualising Boolean Set Operations: Real & Virtual Boundaries in Contemporary Site-specific Art, October 2002-March 2006, University of Surrey/Wimbledon School of Art, London, ISNI: 0000 0001 3483 5733, British Library Record, LABS Record), AHRC-funded MA Fine Art: Drawing (2002, WSA), BA (Hons) in Fine Art Painting (2001, WSA), BTEC Foundation Diploma in Fine Art: Painting (1998, Chelsea College of Art and Design, The London Institute, London) and a CLTAD (Centre for Learning and Teaching in Art and Design) Certificate in Higher Education teaching (2004, Royal College of Art/ University of the Arts London).
- Institutions & Associations -
Experience as a Visiting Lecturer/Critic includes the MA Architecture & Digital Media (University of Westminster, London) and MA Architecture & Urbanism (Architectural Association School of Architecture, London). Other contributions: Leonardo Abstracts Service (LABS) Peer Reviewer, International Programme Commitee and Artistic Jury Member of International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA International), Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Fine & Studio Art (Academic Journals), Member of Pie (π): Publication Integrity and Ethics, UK, Associate of School of ARCHhitecture for All, Athens (SARCHA, a representative of the Hellenic Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change at the European Forum for Architectural Policies), Leonardo Reviews Panel (ISAST/MΙT). Other memberships include Architectural Humanities Research Association (UK), Art & Science Collaborations Inc (NYC), Drawing Research Network, Centre for Recent Drawing, Constantin Carathéodory Friends Association (Constantin Carathéodory Museum and Research Centre, Greece) and many others.
- Publishing -
Since 2009, Fratzeskou’s publication record of Monographs (morebooks, Blackwell's, Barnes & Noble, etc.) has been extensive, building on the concept of interstitiality for defining new types of drawing and spatial praxis at the intersection of art, architecture, computer science, Virtual Reality, mathematics, Quantum physics and cosmology. A number of Monographs has been translated into Italian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch and Russian, listed as Bestsellers in Art/Space Complexity/Academic Publications categories by BookAuthority, Bücher World (FX Ventures, Hamburg), Magrudy, etc., expert sources in Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopaedias, and HE Course Material in architecture, drawing, design and art (archived listings/news). Eugenia has worked as an Author and as a member of the Digicult Editorial Board in the capacity of an International & Academic Networks & Cooperation Consultant. Eugenia’s articles on her recent research and practice and her reviews of the latest developments in art, architecture, space, science, technology, cosmology and perception are published in the Leonardo ISAST Journal (The MIT Press) and Le Journal Spéciale Z (Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture, Paris/Bruil & van de Staaij) that has been featured in several major international touring shows such as the Storefront for Art and Architecture in New York with Archizines (Elias Redstone/AA School of Architecture, London/Bedford Press) and the Arch-Art! Books.
- Initiatives, Contributions & Collaborations -
EXPANDING INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC ART
Eugenia was an IPC/Artistic Jury Member for 26th ISEA2020: Why Sentience? Montreal, Canada (13rd – 18th October, 2020, in partnership with Printemps Numerique). She was also an IPC Member/Reviewer for ISEA2018: Intersections, the 24th International Symposium on Electronic Art in conjunction with Digifest 5: Arts and Design Digital Festival, 23rd – 30th June 2018, Arts and Design, Durban University of Technology, ZA; the 23rd International Symposium on Electronic Art ISEA 2017: Bio-creation and Peace hosted in Universidad de Caldas of Manizales and the XVI International Image Festival, in conjunction with the French-Colombian Alliance for 2017 and the 50th Leonardo Anniversary, 11th – 8th June, 2017); ISEA 2012: Machine Wilderness, Albuquerque, produced by 516 ARTS in partnership with The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History and The University of New Mexico, US (19th – 24th September 2012); international Reviewer for ISEA2011 Istanbul, where she also delivered her lecture “Mapping Uncertainty” at the ISEA 2011 Istanbul Conference (14th – 21st September 2011) that coincided with the Istanbul Biennale. Eugenia delivered her lecture “Unfolding Space” at ISEA RUHR 2010, 27th August 2010, Dortmund. That was the 16th International Symposium on Electronic Art, one of the most important festivals for digital and electronic art and one of the projects of RUHR 2010 European Capital of Culture (20th – 29th August 2010, Germany).
Eugenia's drawing series were part of the ‘Art-Science Innovation: Generative Arts Exhibition’, ESPACIO ENTER International Festival of Creativity, Innovation & Digital Culture (ARTECHMEDIA) at the TEA Museum of Art (Tenerife Espacio de las Artes, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain): Boundary Transmutations, 2019; Inter-Surfaces, 2017; Interstitial Geometries, 2016.
URBANISM, ARCHITECTURAL PRAXIS & DRAWING: RESEARCH – TEACHING - PHILOSOPHY
Dr Eugenia Fratzeskou’s postdoctoral contribution to digital site-specific art, drawing, architecture and philosophy of space has included Interspatiality & Dystopia (lecture & exhibition), part of the Un-built 2008 programme of architecture research events (The Athens Byzantine & Christian Museum / School of ARCHitecture for All, Athens, November 2008). As a SARCHA Associate, Eugenia has been working on the Polypolis project since 2011. The project marked the inauguration of the SARCHA Visiting School Programme with postgraduate architecture students from the London Bartlett UCL. The final stage of Polypolis_Athens was presented at the British Council’s International Architecture & Design Showcase 2012, as the official entry of Greece in the London Festival of Architecture, Cultural Olympiad 2012 (under the auspices of the Embassy of Greece in London. SARCHA strategic partners: International Law and Theory Center, Westminster University, Urban Design MArch programme, Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL). Polypolis_Gerani 2012 formed part of the Youth in Action EU program and involved the Mayor of Athens as the Polypolis Athens Mayor, (Athens, 9th June 2012, under the auspices of the Municipality of Athens, Athina 9.84FM and the support of General Secretariat for Youth, National Youth Foundation, European Commission, Education & Culture).
For Urban Transcripts 2012: London, the (n)ever-changing city, she has been appointed an Educational Programmes member, a Programme Committee and Jury Member, and Workshop Tutor for Unit 5 – Mapping Emergence: Nomads, Nodes, Strings & Paths, also contributing to What will you make of the (n)ever-changing city?, The Urban Transcripts 2012 Conference, UCL, 8th December 2012. She worked as an Educational Programmes member and Workshop Tutor for Unit 2 – Rome City & Urban Superbia: Drawing the Invisible and a Project Review & Curatorial Committee member for Urban Transcripts 2011: Rome, the Accidental City. She contributed also to The Urban Transcripts 2011 Projects Review at the Urban Studies Department (DIPSU), Roma Tre University, Rome, 16th December 2011, and The Urban Transcripts 2011 Conference and Exhibition at Casa del Municipio - Urban Center Roma XI, Rome, 17th December 2011. Her drawing project Drawing the unplanned city was exhibited and presented as part of Urban Transcripts 2010: Athens, urban (r)evolution through individual spontaneity in the absence of planning (international exhibition and talks, by Kollektiva.net), at Booze Cooperativa Gallery, December 2010, Athens.
Notably, Eugenia's work on interstitiality was part of the ABC: MTL - A Self-Portrait of Montréal exhibition, 13rd November 2012 – 31st March 2013, at the Main Galleries of the international research centre and museum of The Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA).
ACADEMIC/RESEARCH INITIATIVES – DIGITAL ARTS
Eugenia initiated several international interdisciplinary conferences, exhibitions, research events and publications e.g. she was the co-editor of the AHRC Fine Art Doctoral Research Training Programme 2005-2007 publication (WSA & Kingston University) and the leader of research projects such as Revealing Practice, 2005 (AHRC Fine Art Collaborative Doctoral Training Programme), Drawing & Digital Technology (international Association of Independent Art Schools, 2001), Venice Revisited (based on her research visits to the 50th Venice Biennale with International Venice Biennale Agendas, followed by her keynote presentation 'International Online Drawing Projects - Drawing Projects and the Venice Biennale' at Tate Britain, London 2003), Drawing Projects with the Centre for Interactive Network Arts (WSA), Multimedia Arts Research and Electronic Laboratories (MARCEL), Le Fresnoy Studio National des Arts Contemporains, Lille, Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto, Cergy-Pontoise University, Paris, University of Maine, Orono, The School of Visual Arts, New York, The Souillac Group, France, the Centre for Interactive Network Arts launch and development (WSA), New York Digital Salon 10th Anniversary symposium 2003, and many others.
ART RESIDENCES AND SHOWS
Eugenia also worked as the Artist-in-residence for the Computers in Art & Design Education 2003 and Pathways/CADISE 2001 programs and participated in several exhibitions, conferences, research programs and publications worldwide including Without Borders: Experiments in Art, Culture & Technology, University of Maine, 2004, Marks in Space: Drawing & Sculptural Form, Usher Gallery, The Arts Council, Hayward Gallery & Lincoln County Council, UK, 2004 (with Cornelia Parker, Liam Gillick and others), Drawing - The process, UK touring show, Kingston University/University of Plymouth, 2003-2004, The institutionalisation of Knowledge conference, University of the Arts London /CLTAD, 2005, GAGE 2005, Not TV: Being There online festival of interactive art, Slade School of Fine Art, 2003, Association of Independent Art Schools 2002: Digital Shaman symposium, Kaywon School of Art & Design, Seoul, TRACEY Drawing & Visualisation Research Journal, Loughborough University, 2002, The OneMinutes, Sandberg Instituut, Institute for Media Art Montevideo and Salto TV broadcasting, The Netherlands, during 2002-6, 10 Young Greek Artists of London, Gallery K, London, 2002, Annual Show of the British Society of Graduate Artists and Designers, The Mall Galleries, London, 2002, The Discerning Eye exhibition, ING London, 2002, Halfproducts international exchange project and group show, Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, WSA, London, Spring-Summer 2002, BHF Bank Exhibition, BHF Bank, London 1999-2000, It’s All About Pace - Drawing Show, Art Gallery, Wimbledon Public Library, London, 2002. Her work was also shown in Knights Park Gallery, Loughborough University, Birmingham Art Gallery (UCE), The Chapel Gallery, St Helens, Clifford Fisher Gallery, Exeter and others.
INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION & VIDEO INSTALLATION ART-SHOWS
Her video artworks were selected and shown in the following: ‘Rietveld Arsenale: The One Minutes Train’ international touring video art exhibition shown at the Arsenale Novissimo in Venice as part of the 53rd Venice Biennale (4th June 2006 – 19th July 2009), the major anniversary show ‘10 years the One Minutes’ at Kunsthal Kade, Amersfoort, The Netherlands (27th November 2009 – 14th February 2010) and the ‘Road Movie One Minutes’ selection, April 2011 (screened in various international cultural institutions including Academisch Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam, Amsterdam Museum, deBuren, Brussel Centraal Museum, Utrecht, Cultuurwerf/Buro Beeldende Kunst, Vlissingen, Graphic Design Museum, Breda, het Haarlem College, NIMK, Amsterdam, Schunck*, Heerlen & TwentseWelle, Enschede).
- Collaborative Work/Contributions featured elsewhere -
“The Resourceful Architect Day of Ideas”, Royal Society of Arts, London, 18th May 2011, Hellenic Technical Chamber conference “Public space –wanted”, Olympion cinema, Thessaloniki, 22nd October 2011, Athens Biennial Monodrome, Athens, 4th December 2011, “Architecture and the Paradox of Dissidence”, 9th International AHRA Conference, School of Architecture, London Metropolitan University, 15th - 17th November 2012, “In search for the new urbanity” event, Talk Forward Cycle, Onassis Cultural Centre, Athens, 24th April, 2012, ‘NGOs Shaping Cities’ symposium, Resite Festival, Centre for Central European Architecture, Prague, 22nd – 23rd May 2012, “Atlas of the Unbuilt World” exhibition, The British Council, London, 2013, “Athens, Radical Futures?” Symposium, University of Edinburgh, 20th November 2014.
- Awards -
1st Prizes
- Gold Medals & Awards of Excellence in Fine Art: Painting by the Greek Government (1990-1998).
- The ‘Green and Stone’ Drawing Prize by Chelsea College of Art & Design (1998).
- Prize of Honour International Exhibition, Association of Independent Art Schools 2002: Digital Shaman Symposium, Kaywon School of Art and Design, Seoul, Korea, 2002.
- Top Design Initiative and Most Popular Design Website (WebStatsDomain.org, January 2016):
The Blog "Mapping Emergence: Nomads, Nodes, Strings & Paths" (conceived, created and managed by Eugenia Fratzeskou since 2012) was listed by Web Stats Domain as one of the Top Design Initiatives and Most Popular Design Websites globally.
- Top City Exhibition Website (WebStatsDomain.org, February 2016):
The "Drawing the Invisible: An Architecture and Spatial Practice Initiative" Blog (conceived, created and managed by Eugenia Fratzeskou since 2011) was listed by Web Stats Domain as one of the Top City Exhibition Websites globally.
- Official Laurel Selection ESPACIO ENTER Canarias 2019 (for Boundary Transmutations drawing series shown at the 10th edition of ESPACIO ENTER International Festival of Creativity, Innovation & Digital Culture, 2nd-7th April 2019, ARTECHMEDIA/TEA Museum of Art).
- Press -
Eugenia has been interviewed by the international press such as London Greek Radio (LGR), and had regular entries in Kathimerini, Eleftherotypia and Peloponissos Newspapers, Greece. Her work and contributions have been also featured in Eleftheros Typos Newspaper, Greece, 6th Μay 2008, OTE Business Live ad in London 2011, Unità Newspaper, Italy, 2011, LeCool online magazine, 2011, the Journal of Architects Association of Attica, 2012, Blueprint magazine, Issue 332, January/February 2014, Athens Voice and many others.
- Collections/Archives -
Dr Eugenia Fratzeskou’s essays and reviews are published in Leonardo ISAST Journal/MIT Press, Leonardo Digital Reviews, the ARTECA curated space for essential content linking the arts, sciences, and technologies, and Leonardo Abstracts Service. Her work is also included in private, institutional collections and major academic libraries worldwide (many of them are recommended as a course reading material) such as the Architectural Association School of Architecture, London, The Drawing Room, London, Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL), British Library, London, Oxford University, Cambridge University, Henry Moore Institute, University of the Arts London, Birmingham Libraries, National Library of Scotland, National Library of Wales, Trinity College Dublin, Loughborough University, University for the Creative Arts, Research Libraries UK, Library of Congress, The MIT Libraries, Columbia University, Harvard University, UC Berkeley California, Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA), Danish Union Catalogue and Danish National Bibliography, Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (Leipzig/Frankfurt am Main), B3Kat (Bavarian State Library/ Berlin-Brandenburg Library), Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, ETH-Bibliothek, Zurich, University of Johannesburg, Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte, Bibliothek, Munich, European Library, Wollongong University, Australia, RMIT, Info Arts by Prof. Stephen Wilson (CIA Program , Art Dept., San Francisco State University) as part of the research for his book Information Arts (MIT Press 2002), Tel Aviv University, National Library of Israel, WorldCat and WorldCat Identities, Internet Archive and Open Library (California State Library/ Kahle/Austin Foundation), Google Scholar and Google Books, Microsoft Academic Research, Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias, Cyclopedia, Internationale Medien-Datenbank archINFORM, Drawing Research – Art Bibliographies, Kubikat, Artnews.de, National Institute of Informatics (Tokyo), WorldWideScience.org (U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Scientific and Technical Information), Wuhan Library (Chinese Academy of Sciences) and Zhejiang Library of China, China Publishers Services, Suweco, UBS Library Services Pte Ltd, Concert Urbain Association, Artlinkart/WOWA, GIRRL (international organisation supporting and promoting new work by women working in the sonic arts and digital media, Brisbane), etc.
- HE Institutional Input and Grants -
Invited contributor to the Responsible Conduct in Research-Creation: Creative Tools to meet the Challenges of an Effervescent Practice research project (Fonds de recherche du Québec/University of Montréal, 2017). Regular member of university committees and international working groups during 2000-2007. Eugenia’s committee membership included the following: Academic Board, BA, MA History of Art & Contextual Studies, Research Committee, QME Annual Course Monitoring, Joint Management Committee of the AHRC Fine Art Doctoral Research Training Programme 2005-2007, etc. Participation in the External Review of the Centre for Drawing (WSA), Research Audits (including HEFCE 2003, Digital Research Resources 2004), the interview panels for appointing the Directors of Research (2003-2005) and the lecturers for the BA course in Fine Art: Painting during 2000-2001. Eugenia has worked as a leading researcher, initiator, lead organiser, curator, chair and editor in a variety of contexts. Her initiatives have been funded by the AHRC, CADE, AIAS, University of the Arts London, other bodies and institutions.