Marie-Louise Nigg

Marie-Louise Nigg is a Lecturer at the Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art (Lucerne, Switzerland), specializing in Art and Cultural Theory within the BA Art department. She holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies from Humboldt University Berlin (2015) and has taught interdisciplinary courses since 1993, focusing on space theories, urban studies, and transcultural interactions. She co-leads the interdisziplinäre Themencluster (ITC) ‘Raum & Gesellschaft’ since 2023.

Education:

• Studies in Germanistics, Art History, and Comparative Literature at University of Zurich
• Teaching diploma (Höheres Lehramt), University of Zurich
• Ph.D. in Cultural Studies (2015), Humboldt University Berlin

Research Interests: Interdisciplinary exploration of space theories/practices, urban studies, performative and sound studies, non/human interaction, and transcultural dynamics. Her work bridges art, literature, and urban environments, emphasizing participatory practices and spatial narratives.

Recent Trends in Publications: Focus on ecological art (Birdscapes), urban narratives, and the role of walking as a cultural and subversive practice. Collaborates with artists and researchers on projects like Squares re\p\l\a\y\c\e\d and Seeking Birdscapes, exploring interdisciplinary intersections between art and ecology.

Organizational Roles:

• Member of the Board of Friends of the Lucerne History Museum
• Past roles: Art critic for Swiss newspapers (1993–2001), member of visarte Central Switzerland and Lucerne City Art Commission

Research & Collaboration: Co-leads ITC ‘Raum & Gesellschaft’ fostering interdisciplinary space studies. Active in exhibitions (e.g., Kornhausforum Bern) and public lectures on topics like non/human ecologies and urban theory.