Stefan Winter, *1959, philosopher and author, is Honorary Professor for Artistic Research at Film University Babelsberg, Germany (since 2018), and Visiting Professor at the Wits School of Architecture and Planning in Johannesburg, South Africa (since 2020).
In my research and teaching at universities and art schools, I traversed and connected artistic and scientific knowledge cultures, unpacking philosophy as a way to foster and facilitate dialogues and collaborations. Having analysed symbolic orders in the dynamics of their transformation, from the early Greek Orphic tradition to post-industrial times, I currently focus on the interplay between social practices and the design of urban spaces, in an entanglement of artistic research, philosophy, architecture, and urban design.
Research & Teaching
I received my PhD in Philosophy in 1991 at University of Düsseldorf and my Postdoctoral Lecturing Qualification (Habilitation) in 2007 at Technical University Braunschweig. From 1993 to 2018, I worked as a researcher and lecturer at University of Düsseldorf, Collegium Phenomenologicum Perugia, University of Helsinki, Technical University of Braunschweig, University of the Arts Berlin, FHNW Academy of Art and Design Basel, and as a visiting professor at University of the Arts Braunschweig and Film University Babelsberg. My involvement with research communities in South Africa was complemented by my research residency with Arts Research Africa at Wits School of Arts, Johannesburg, in 2021.
Curating
7/2024 Chair for the session “Traditional, Modern and Contemporary Architectural Production and the Alienation of Africans from Urban Space” at the conference Ongoing and emerging discourses in African architectural practices, Wits School of Architecture & Planning Johannesburg in cooperation with Bartlett School of Architecture London; presenters Heather Dodd, Muhammad Moola (Johannesburg), James Hampton (London), Diran Soumonni (Benin)
5/2024 Chair for the panel “Artistic research and city space: ‘How will we live together?’” at the art + research event City is sound, city is quicksand, Helsinki, Hietsu Pavilion & online”; presenters a.o. Heidi Hänninen, Lauri Jäntti , Paul Tiensuu (Helsinki), Danae Theodoridou (Brussels), Alexander Damianisch (Vienna), Anita Szentesi, Sophy Wentzel, Rashid Juma, Prince Massingham, Neo Monyamane, Mocke Jansen van Veuren (Johannesburg)
12/2022 Chair for the panel “Artistic research and city space” at KuvA Research Days, University of the Arts Helsinki & online; presenters a.o. Brigitta Stone-Johnson, Jill Richards, Tanja Sakota, Christo Doherty, BJ Engelbrecht, Zen Marie, Prince Massingham, Jurgen Meekel, Neo Monyamane, Mocke J van Veuren, (Johannesburg), François Sarhan (Berlin), Uygur Vural (Berlin/Istanbul), Emeka Ogboh (Berlin/Lagos)
6/2021 Chair for the conference Transversal Entanglement. Artistic Research in Film, Film University Babelsberg & online; presenters a.o. Claire Denis (Paris), Kristoffer Gansing (Copenhagen),Thomas Heise (Vienna), Rachel Rose (New York)
10/1995 Co-organisation of the conference Rencontre at Collège International de Philosophie Paris; presenters a.o. Walter Biemel (Düsseldorf), Jacques Derrida (Paris), Bernhard Waldenfels (Bochum)
6/1994 Co-organisation of the conference The German-French Dialogues in Philosophy at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. Opening speech by H.E. François Scheer, Ambassador of France to Germany; presenters a.o. Dietmar Kamper (Berlin), Jean-François Lyotard (Paris), Jean-Luc Nancy (Paris), Bernhard Waldenfels (Bochum)
Institutional Design
4/2019 – 5/2024 Head of Institute for Artistic Research at Film University Babelsberg
4/2019 – 9/2023 Representative of Germany on the Management Committee of European Forum for Advanced Practices, COST Action 18136; from 2/2023 to 9/2023 also leader of Working Group 5 („Evaluation: values, criteria, procedures“)
1/2012 – 12/2012 Advisor to the President of FHNW Academy of Art and Design Basel
10/2007 – 12/2008 Scientific Assistant to the Dean of the College of Architecture, Media and Design at University of the Arts Berlin; conceptual cooperation in the restructuring of the College
4/2003 – 3/2005 Deputy Dean of Studies at the College of Humanities, Technical University of Braunschweig