Alexander García Düttmann

Professor Alexander García Düttmann is a distinguished scholar in philosophical aesthetics and art theory at the Berlin University of the Arts, where he serves in the Institute of Art History and Aesthetics. With an international academic career spanning multiple continents and prestigious institutions, Düttmann has established himself as a leading voice in contemporary aesthetic theory and cultural criticism.

Professor Düttmann's educational background includes studies in Frankfurt am Main with Alfred Schmidt and in Paris with the renowned philosopher Jacques Derrida. His formative academic experiences with these influential thinkers have deeply shaped his philosophical approach.

Professor Düttmann's research focuses on the intersection of aesthetics, philosophy, and political theory. His work explores how art functions as a form of thinking that resists conventional knowledge production while engaging with political and social issues. He investigates concepts such as participation, happiness, and resistance through the lens of contemporary art practices, examining how artistic creation challenges established conventions and offers alternative ways of being in the world. His theoretical framework draws from continental philosophy, particularly the works of Derrida and Benjamin, while addressing current cultural and political contexts.

Düttmann's publications reveal a consistent exploration of art's capacity to challenge conventional thinking and political structures. His work moves from examining participation in art and politics, to investigating happiness through naive art practices, and culminating in his aesthetics of resistance framework. His recent publications increasingly focus on the political dimensions of contemporary art, analyzing how artistic practices engage with ideology and power structures while maintaining their critical potential.

Professor Düttmann has made significant contributions through translations and editorial work, including translating Derrida's works into German and Benjamin's essay on Julien Green into French. He has also edited 'Theory and Practice', an unpublished seminar by Jacques Derrida on Marx.

Professor Düttmann mentors students and collaborates with academic colleagues in his field. His current team includes scientific assistant Rebekka Wilkens and student employees Tara Habibzadeh and Nils Schmitt, who support his research and teaching activities at the Berlin University of the Arts.