Laurel Johannesson

Professor, Drawing

Laurel Johannesson studied at the University of Calgary, the University of Saskatchewan, and the Royal College of Art in London. Her print, photographic, interactive, and moving image artworks have been exhibited extensively in Italy, Greece, England, France, India, Iceland, Portugal, Argentina, Germany, Japan, Chile, Taiwan, the United States, and Canada.

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Included in many public and private collections, Laurel was recently honoured to have her work collected by the Department of Foreign Affairs for one of their Canadian embassies abroad. Laurel has twice been a visiting artist and scholar at the American Academy in Rome, and an invited artist in residence at institutions in Iceland, Greece, and the South of France. She is a fellow of the Bau Institute [Italy] and has had the rare opportunity to conduct some of her research at the Vatican Library. Receiving an Alberta Foundation for the Arts project grant in 2016, she spent an extended period of time in Greece presenting her work as well as working on the Hypnos project. Her research in the area of temporality, the moving image, interactivity, and generative art has been presented at conferences in Rome, Florence, Milan, the University of Greenwich, London, UK and the University of California – Los Angeles. Laurel is a Professor in the School of Visual Arts.

"In my research, I investigate the converging relationship between non-linear theories of temporality and contemporary artistic practices that use interactive, generative technology, and the moving image. My enquiry focuses on the intersecting relationship between philosophy and art practices through an examination of the concept of time and temporality. In my writing, I illustrate how philosophies of eternal recurrence relate to the origins of the moving image through early devices of repeating cycles and generative content that presented moving image or sound as a cycle, loop, or generator. I am interested in how early modes of representing time relate to cinema, and in turn how cinema has impacted the presence of the moving image in contemporary projected linear and generative narratives. In this context, I also examine the work of artists who make technology, the moving image, interactive, and generative content a major part of their practice. I am conducting an extensive cross-disciplinary survey of the history and philosophies of temporality. In parallel, I am surveying contemporary generative art and contrast this with an overview of interactive art installations. From this broad background I am producing a synthesis regarding the temporal relationship to interactive evolutionary experiences. This ongoing interest in temporality has led me to explore the concept of oblivion or forgetfulness in my artistic practice."

Education

PhD Candidacy, Computational Media Design, University of Calgary.

Graduate Studies, Printmaking, Royal College of Art, London, UK.

MFA, Printmaking & Digital Media, University of Calgary.

BFA [with Distinction & Distinguished Exhibition], University of Saskatchewan.

BA, Studio Art, University of Saskatchewan.

Selected Professional Activity

Residencies + Fellowships

Artist in Residence - Palazzo Monti Residency Program, Brescia, Italy. 2017.

Resident Artist - Ionion Center for the Arts + Culture, Kefalonia, Greece. 2016.

Visiting Artist - Hellenic International Studies in the Arts. Paros, Greece. 2014.

Reader + Researcher - Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vatican City. 2014.

Visiting Artist - American Academy in Rome, Rome, Italy. 2013.

Artist in Residence - Skopelos Foundation for the Arts, Isle of Skopelos, Greece. 2013.

Artist in Residence - Spiazzi Venezia, Venice, Italy. 2010.

Visiting Artist - American Academy in Rome, Rome, Italy. 2009.

Artist in Residence - A.I.R. Vallauris, Vallauris, Cote d’Azur, France. 2008.

Fellow - The Bau Institute, Otranto, Italy. 2007.

Artist in Residence - Apothiki Art Centre, Paros, Greece. 2007.

Artist in Residence - Apothiki Art Centre, Paros, Greece. 2006.

Visiting Artist - Hellenic International Studies in the Arts. Paros, Greece. 2006.

Artist in Residence - Sambard Islenskra Myndlistarmanna (SIM), Association of Icelandic Visual Artists, Reykjavik, Iceland. 2005.

Artist in Residence - Skopelos Foundation for the Arts, Isle of Skopelos, Greece. 2005.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, Canada. Hypnos. 2017.

Ionion Center for the Arts + Culture, Kefalonia, Greece. Thirst. 2016.

Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, Canada. Mondo Liquido. 2013.

Spiazzi Venezia, Venice, Italy. Acqua Vellutata Sospesa. 2010.

A.I.R Vallauris, Vallauris, South of France. Respiro. 2008.

Apothiki Art Centre, Parikia, Paros Island, Greece. Thirst. 2007.

Selected Group Exhibitions

Douro, Portugal. Ninth International Printmaking Biennial of Douro. 2018.

Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, Canada.The Photographers. 2018.

Museo d'Arte della città di Ravenna / Biblioteca Classense, Ravenna, Italy. Generative Art International. 2017.

Douro, Portugal. Third Global Print. 2017.

Ionion Center for the Arts + Culture, Kefalonia, Greece. SEA(S) International Exhibition. 2016.

Museu da Vila Velha, Vila Real, Portugal. Eighth International Printmaking Biennial of Douro. 2016.

Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Canada. From Our Collection: Recent Acquisitions 2015 - 2016.

Dyson Gallery, Royal College of Art, London, UK. RCA Secret 2015 (London).

A4 Space, Alserkal Avenue Contemporary Galleries, Art Dubai, United Arab Emirates. RCA Secret 2015 (Dubai).

Zhongshan National Gallery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Zhongshan, Taiwan. Printed in Canada / Taiwan. 2014.

Gallery of Angelica Library, Rome, Italy. Presenting interactive video painting installation, Acqua Vellutata Sospesa. XIV Generative International Art Conference. 2011.

RISE Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Happiness Machines. 2010.

Conference Presentations

XX Generative International Art Conference. Biblioteca Classence, Ravenna, ITALY. Chronophobia - Temporality, Technology, and the Artist. December 2017.

Material Environments: Sensing Time and Matter in Digital and Visual Culture Conference. University of Greenwich, London, UK. Playing With Time: Temporality at the Intersection of Art + Technology. Paper Presentation. July 2015.

Technology, Knowledge and Society – Eighth International Conference. UCLA - University of California, Los Angeles, USA. Eternal Recurrence, Temporality, and Technology: How Contemporary Computer Art Can Learn from Early Modes of Representing Time. Paper Presentation. January 2012.

XIV Generative International Art Conference. Rome, ITALY. The Narkissos Project. Paper + Presentation. December 2011. XIV Generative International Art Conference. Rome, ITALY. Acqua Vellutata Sospesa : Interactive Video Painting. Installation December 2011.

ACM Multimedia International Conference. Florence, ITALY. Acqua Vellutata Sospesa ; Interactive Video Painting. Paper + Presentation. October 2010. XIII Generative Art International Conference. Milan, ITALY. Acqua Vellutata Sospesa : Interactive Video Painting. Paper, Presentation, + Installation. December 2010.

XI Generative Art International Conference. Milan ITALY. Respiro. Paper, Presentation, + Installation. December 2008.

Selected Publications

Articles + Features

Dreamlike Photos of the Ocean Inspired by Mythology. Alison Nastasi, Editor. Flavorpill FLAVORWIRE, New York, NY. April 9, 2017.

Going Deeper With Laurel Johannesson. Aserica Magazine. Tokyo, L.A, London, Paris. 2017.

Moving Images: Exposure 2017 offers up photographers who have great focus - Laurel Johannesson. Bruce Weir. Calgary Herald / Swerve Magazine. January 27, 2017.

Through The Liquid Lens: Questions for Laurel Johannesson.  Lori Lofgren. SCAN Publication by CoLab. Issue 2. August, 2016. pg. 13-14.

Visual Art Exhibitions and Events in February You Should Know About. Karin Olafson. Avenue Magazine. February 1, 2017.

H Laurel Johannesson στα Κεφαλονίa / Laurel Johannesson in Kefalonia. Interview in Κεφαλονίτικα Νέα / Kefalonitikia News. May 30, 2016.

Η έκθεση της Laurel Johannesson στο Ιόνιο Κέντρο Τεχνών και Πολιτισμού / The Exhibition of Laurel Johannesson at the Ionion Center for the Arts and Culture. Interview by Katerina Foka in KEFALONIzo... entertainment. May 29, 2016.

THIRST: ΕΚΘΕΣΗ ΤΗΣ LAUREL JOHANNESON ΣΤΟ ΙΟΝΙΟ ΚΕΝΤΡΟ ΤΕΧΝΩΝ / Thirst: The Exhibition of Laurel Johannesson at the Ionion Center for Arts and Culture. Kefalonia Photo. May 26, 2016.

Global Print 2015. Douro, Portugal. Exhibition Catalogue. Curated by Nuno Canelas.

Printed in: Canada/Taiwan. Exhibition catalogue. Curated by Guy Langevin and Rock Shen. 2014.

Laurel Johannesson - A Life Aquatic. Brieanne Biblow. Catalyst magazine. Fall 2013. pg. 36-37.

"Thirst - Immersion #18" featured in Alberta Views magazine, September, 2013. Volume 16, Number 7. pg. 23.

Dreamy Photos Captured from an Underwater Perspective. Alison Nastasi, Editor. Flavorpill FLAVORWIRE, New York, NY. August 25, 2012.

photos taken from under the water’s surface by laurel johannesson. Lara Mikocki, Editor. designboom, Milan, Italy. August 22, 2012.

2011 - The Beautiful Ways of Innovation. UToday. University of Calgary. August 11, 2011.

Published Papers + Journals

Journal of Computational Media Design. Issue 5. Flock and Awe Publishing. Editors: Laurel Johannesson + Marjan Eggermont. December, 2012. ISSN 1925-5691

Journal of Computational Media Design. Issue 4. Flock and Awe Publishing.Editors: Laurel Johannesson + Marjan Eggermont. June 2012. ISSN 1925-5691

Eternal Recurrence, Temporality, and Technology: How Contemporary Computer Art Can Learn from Early Modes of Representing Time. GASTHJ: Generative Art, Science and Technology Journal. Issue 1. Domus Argenia Publishing. Milan, Italy. May 2012.

“The Narkissos Project”. Proceedings of XIV Generative International Art Conference. Politecnico di Milano University, Milan, Italy. Held at the Frescos Hall of Italian Universities Rectors Conference, Rome, Italy. December 2011.

Journal of Computational Media Design. Issue 3. Flock and Awe Publishing. Editors: Laurel Johannesson + Marjan Eggermont. December, 2011. ISSN 1925-5691

Catalogue essay. evolve: an installation by Tina Martel. Prairie Art Gallery, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada. ISBN 978-0-9877278-0-0

Journal of Computational Media Design. Issue 2. Flock and Awe Publishing. Editors: Laurel Johannesson + Marjan Eggermont. June, 2011. ISSN 1925-5691 Journal of Computational Media Design. Issue 1. Flock and Awe Publishing. Editors: Laurel Johannesson + Marjan Eggermont. February, 2011. ISSN 1925-5691

“Acqua Vellutata Sospesa”. Proceedings of XIII Generative International Art Conference. Politecnico di Milano University, Milan, Italy. December 2010. ISBN 978-88-96610-06-0

“Acqua Vellutata Sospesa: Interactive Video Painting”. ACM Multimedia ’10 Proceedings of the International conference on Multimedia. Florence, Italy. October 2010. ISBN: 978-1-60558-933-6

“Respiro”. Proceedings of XI Generative International Art Conference. Politecnico di Milano University, Milan, Italy. December 2008.

Selected Awards

Visual Arts Project Grant, The Alberta Foundation for the Arts, 2016, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2001.

Faculty Research & Professional Development Award, Alberta College of Art + Design, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005.

Faculty Research Contingency Initiative Grant, Alberta College of Art + Design, 2013, 2011.

Marion Award for Innovation in Research, Alberta College of Art + Design, 2008.

Honourable Mention (for the integration of new technologies with print), La Biennale internationale d’estampe contemporaine de Trois-Rivieres, 2005.

Multidisciplinary Creation Grant, The Canada Council for the Arts, 2000.