GRAPHGAIA
was founded in 2018 referring to my name, Gaia Schlegel née Englert, and graphic arts. Hence, this project combines my personal interest with my professional expertise. ‚Kunstkennerey‘ is a German word for connoisseurship, that was popular in the 19th century. Connoisseurship denotes an ability to judge an artwork in terms of technique, quality, originality and dating, which is developed through practical training, a broad education as well as thorough research and market expertise.
During my studies in Tübingen, I concentrated on graphic arts and medial translation processes. Since my Bachelor degree in History of Arts and Slavic Studies, I developed great interest in both fields and their theoretical relations, overlappings and similar scientific tasks in particular. Consequently, I chose to complete two different Master studies simultaneously. This dual approach allowed me to widen the horizon of my personal scientific work, as I acquired competencies in interdisciplinary methodologies and subjects, which is reflected in both Master theses respectively. This convergence led to a focus on reproductions and representations of art in printed books and illustrated volumes, lying at the core of my research interests. Currently I’m working on my PhD project with the kind and constructive guidance of Prof. Dr. Daniela Mondini (Università della Svizzera Italiana).
My academic work has always been accompanied by practical activities. Direct, physical contact with works of art has always been particularly important to me. The founding of the online gallery Kunstkennerey was the logical consequence of my years of work in the museum and the Tübingen gallery. This is where my expertise and my passion for art education come together.
Academic Education:
2019/02 – today: Matriculation at the Università della Svizzera Italiana for Doctoral Studies.
2018/11 – 2019/04: exposé-scholarship Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
2018/05 – today: PhD project: „Constructing (national) patrimony: medieval monuments in comparative histories of architecture in Central Europe 1890/1900-1920/30“. Find out more.
2018/11/25: Obtained Degree [final grade 1,0] Master of Arts for Slavic Studies at the Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany
2018/01/10: Obtained Degree [final grade 1,0] Master of Arts for History of Arts at the Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany
2017/01 – 2019/03: participant in Geisteswissenschaftliches Kolleg der Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes, working on: „Aesthetics of medial truth“.
2017/01 – 2018/11: scholarship Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
2015/09/30: Obtained Degree [final grade 1,2] Bachelor of Arts: History of Arts [1,0] Bachelor of Arts: Slavic Studies [1,5] at the Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany
Professional Career:
06/2021 – until today: founder and owner of Kunstkennerey, online gallery for graphic arts, painting and fotography
05/2019 – 07/2021: employment in the Galerie Griesshaber in Tübingen [assistent]
08/2018 – 06/2019: employment at the museum of arts in Stuttgart (Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, Germany) [education, promotion of art]
2017/03 – 2017/06: Internship at the German Society of Natural and Ethnographic Science of East Asia (OAG), Tokyo (Japan) [research, event management, public relations]
2016/04 – 2017/04: Tutor for intermedial seminar at the history of arts institute, Eberhard Karls University, Tuebingen (Germany), assistance to Prof. Dr. Barbara Lange, Prof. Dr. Markus Thome
2014/04 – 2018/09: Research assistant at Eberhard Karls University, Tuebingen (Germany) at the Slavic Seminar, assistance to Prof. Dr. Schahadat
2013/11 – 2014/03: Part-time employment at the museum of arts in Stuttgart (Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, Germany) [education, preparation of exhibition & public relations]
2011/09 – 2012/08: Voluntary employment at the museum of arts in Stuttgart (Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, Germany) [education, preparation of exhibition & public relations]