معرفی
Armin Bergmeier serves as Managing Director of the Institute of Art History at the University of Leipzig, where he holds a substitute professorship for European and Global Medieval Art History (W3). Previously, he served as substitute professor for Late Antique and Byzantine Art History at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. His academic career includes positions at various prestigious institutions including the Center for Anatolian Civilizations in Istanbul and the German Study Center in Venice.
Education:
- Habilitation in Art History, University of Leipzig (2023)
- PhD (summa cum laude), Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (2011-2015)
- Magister, Humboldt University of Berlin (2003-2010)
Bergmeier specializes in the art and architecture of medieval Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East, with particular focus on transcultural phenomena and cultural heritage from late antiquity to the early modern period. His research critically examines traditional categories of eras and cultures through the lens of spolia (reused architectural elements) in Byzantine Empire, Venice, and Seljuk Anatolia. He investigates how processes of repurposing artifacts connect to identity formation across cultural boundaries, challenging modern divisions of culture along nation-state lines.
His publications demonstrate a consistent focus on spolia, cultural heritage, and transcultural connections in medieval art. His recent works examine the visual construction of shared historical narratives through reused materials, particularly in Venice, Byzantium, and Seljuk Anatolia. His research reveals how medieval societies engaged with their past through material culture, often creating connections across political and cultural boundaries that challenge modern nationalist interpretations of history.
Scientific Awards:
- Hans-Janssen-Preis (2018)
- Heisenberg Program admission by DFG (2025)
Bergmeier has supervised numerous students through seminars on spolia and medieval material culture, including the notable "Reuse and Repurpose" podcast series created with students in 2021. His research has been supported by fellowships from Fulbright, Dumbarton Oaks, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. He leads the Institute of Art History at Leipzig University and coordinates international research projects including the Museum Survey of the Archaeological Museum Akşehir, Turkey, and "The Pastiche Past" project focusing on continuity in the premodern Mediterranean.
