Researcher/Lector: Janneke Wesseling

The department of Art Theory and Artistic Practice headed by Janneke Wesseling was established at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague (KABK) in February 2007. Coordinator: Erica van Loon

The department investigates the role of art theory within the practice of the visual artist and designer. Every artist works from a theory or theoretical vision, more or less consciously. The thinking of artists and designers is not aimed at knowledge as an end in itself; their theories are developed to gain insight into their own work.

There is an increasing focus, among both artists and theorists, on the theoretical aspect of the practice of art, as well as on the cognitive function of the artwork: art as a method of investigating reality. The working practice of today’s artists is in many cases characterised by an ongoing reflection on their own working process.

The department is part of the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague and cooperates closely with the Academy of Creative and Performing Arts at Leiden University. In The Hague its task is to anchor theoretical education into art academy education, and to advance the integration of theoretical and practical education. In Leiden the Department is affiliated with the PhD in Arts programme, both on a conceptual and an organisational level.

This research domain/lectoraat has its own website: www.lectoraatkabk.nl