معرفی
Lukas Nickel serves as Professor of Asian Art History at the University of Vienna's Faculty of History and Cultural Studies within the Institute of Art History. Previously, he held academic positions including Reader in Chinese Art History and Archaeology at SOAS (2011-2016) and Lecturer at SOAS and UCL (2004-2011), establishing him as a leading scholar in Chinese art historical studies across European institutions.
His educational background includes:
- PhD in East Asian Art History, Heidelberg University
- Studies in Modern and Classical Sinology, Humboldt University Berlin
- Studies in Oriental Archaeology, University of Halle
Nickel's research investigates fundamental questions of Asian artistic production, focusing on technological innovation in ancient Chinese bronzes, the emergence of Buddhist sculpture, and cross-cultural exchanges along early Silk Road networks. His work particularly examines Qin-Han dynasty tomb architecture as cosmological representation and the transmission of artistic techniques across Eurasia, bridging archaeological evidence with textual analysis to reconstruct historical artistic practices.
Recent publications reveal consistent emphasis on material culture analysis, with growing attention to Sino-Austrian cultural connections exemplified by his 2024 work on the 1873 Vienna World's Fair. His scholarship demonstrates methodological diversity, integrating archaeological fieldwork, museum collection studies, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to address questions of cultural transmission and artistic innovation in premodern Asia.
Scientific recognition includes:
- Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship (2014)
- Election as Ordinary Member of the German Archaeological Institute (2022)
As an advisor, Nickel has supervised 11 doctoral candidates (6 completed, 5 in progress) and 7 master's students, focusing on topics spanning Chinese tomb art, Buddhist iconography, and Silk Road material culture. His institutional leadership includes serving as Deputy Chair of the Doctoral Program (since 2024) and membership on international boards including the Courtauld Institute's Buddhist Art Center (2017-2020).
Nickel directs collaborative archaeological projects such as the 'Temple of the White Dragon' excavations in Shandong province with the Shandong Archaeological Institute, combining field research with museum curation to advance understanding of early Chinese religious architecture and sculptural traditions.
