Details

Title Fellow in History of Art and Architecture

School Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Department/Area CAMLab - History of Art and Architecture

Position Description

Position Overview:

The Academic Fellow will contribute to the development of new research frameworks and innovative artistic practices while working in a dynamic, collaborative environment. The Academic Fellow will work alongside other researchers, artists, and scholars to push the boundaries of academic inquiry and media experimentation in a contemporary context.

The Fellow will lead research initiatives focused on the Shadow Cave legend, a significant cultural prototype within early Buddhist space-making, and push the boundaries of interdisciplinary inquiry through the integration of interactive media art, optical installations, and live performance.

Key Responsibilities:

1) Research on the Shadow Cave Legend and Buddhist Space-Making:

· Conduct in-depth, interdisciplinary research on the Shadow Cave legend, exploring its significance as a cultural prototype in early Buddhist space-making.

· Explore how this legend influences spatial, architectural, and symbolic representations within Buddhist practices, and its continued relevance to contemporary conceptualizations of sacred spaces.

· Engage with primary sources, perform archival research, and analyze historical and contemporary interpretations of the Shadow Cave legend within a variety of cultural contexts.

· Develop new theoretical frameworks for understanding the intersection of legend, space, and media in historical and modern settings.

2) Interdisciplinary Research in Interactive Media Art & Performance:

· Lead research initiatives that explore the frontier of interdisciplinary media art, particularly focusing on interactive installations and their relationship to live performance.

· Collaborate with artists, technologists, and scholars to integrate media technologies, sensory interactions, and embodied experiences in innovative installations.

· Research and experiment with methods of creating immersive environments where media art and performance intersect, mainly through cutting-edge interactive systems.

· Lead the research on contemporary optical installations, which explores the role of perception, vision, and light in contemporary media art, informed by historical and contemporary practices.

· Explore how optical technologies can be combined with interactive elements to craft immersive, participatory art experiences.

· Contribute to public-facing projects, exhibitions, and collaborations, focusing on the dialogue between art, technology, and audience engagement.

External applicants and finalists considered for a tenured appointment will need to complete the same procedures (https://faculty.harvard.edu/phase-1-cond-inq-components) as external applicants and finalists in a search designated specifically for a tenured appointment.

Basic Qualifications

• The successful candidate will possess strong Chinese Art History knowledge.

• A graduate degree is required, preferably in Art History and 5+ year of related professional work experience.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to deliver communications that inform their intended audiences.

  Additional Qualifications

• Ability to form collaborative and effective working relationships.

• Strong team building aptitude.

• Excellent problem-solving skills, self-directed and motivated.

• Strong organizational skills and great attention to detail.

• Project management skills.

  Special Instructions

All applications must be submitted before February 22nd, 2025.

External applicants to a tenured position are required to complete, sign, and upload/submit the form entitled “Authorization to release information for external applicants” (https://faculty.harvard.edu/authorization-release-information-all-external-applicants) as part of the Conduct Inquiry Process (https://faculty.harvard.edu/phase-1-conduct-inquiries) and Procedures for External Applicants and Finalists to Tenured Positions (https://faculty.harvard.edu/phase-1-cond-inq-components) .

Contact Information

Lorna Campos

Contact Email lornacampos@fas.harvard.edu

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions or any other characteristic protected by law.

Minimum Number of References Required 1

Maximum Number of References Allowed 3

Keywords

Supplemental Questions