New Vice-rector of Artistic Research
The Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO) has hired Manuel Pelmus as vice-rector of artistic research for a fixed term of three years. Pelmus assumed his office on 1 August.
“Artistic research is still a relatively young field in Norway,” he notes. “As I see it, this lack of a longstanding tradition represents a great opportunity to help develop and define the field. At the same time, however, it is a budding field that requires time, consideration and strategic thinking.”
Pelmus served as the acting dean of the Academy of Fine Art this spring semester, while simultaneously completing his PhD at the same department. He defended his dissertation in June.
“What contribution can you make as vice-rector?”
“KHiO consists of six departments, each with its own specific characteristics and needs, and the vice-rector’s role is to lead the artistic research being done at the entire school. As an artist, I have worked across a variety of disciplines, both in the performing arts and the visual arts. And it is precisely this interdisciplinarity and ‘mobility’ that I can use in order to promote and develop the collaboration across the entire institution. I can also add here that I have broad international experience and extensive networks that I can draw on from both fields, that is from both the performing arts and the visual arts.”
Dancer at the Hamburg Opera Ballet
Manuel Pelmus started out as a dancer and choreographer before he began working within the visual arts. He studied dance in Bucharest and Hamburg and worked as a dancer at the Hamburg Opera Ballet. In his hometown of Bucharest, he was part of a free, independent art scene that was small but very active, even managing to establish the very first institution of contemporary dance in Romania’s history – not unlike Dansens Hus here in Oslo.
After representing Romania at the Venice Biennale along with Alexandra Pirici, Pelmus began working internationally within the visual arts, exploring a mix of choreography, performance and fine art. In 2019, he successfully applied for a research fellow position at the Academy of Fine Art here at KHiO.
“So why did you apply for the position of vice-rector?”
“Well, first off, my own artistic background and practice has been influenced by my keen interest in artistic research. In regard to this specific position, I think that the ‘Norwegian model’ of artistic research is quite unique, with its emphasis on artistic practice as the core of both the PhD programme and artistic research.”
“At the same time,” he adds, “I believe it is essential to connect our local issues to a wider global debate and to be visible and relevant on the international stage. Along with the great sense of responsibility that I feel for the field of art and for KHiO, these are some of the reasons why I’m enthusiastic about taking over this position.”
Rector Marianne Skjulhaug is glad that Pelmus has been appointed.
“I am very, very happy that Manuel Pelmus has agreed to become our new vice-rector,” she says. “He knows KHiO inside and out and has a background as a dancer, and he also took his PhD degree here at the Academy of Fine Art. This combination makes him particularly well-suited to serve as our vice-rector of artistic research.”