Spatial Performance & Design
Studio Director Theo Lorenz, Studio Master Tanja Siems,
Studio Tutors Mauricio Pauly, David McAlmont,
Andrew Dean, Heiko Kalmbach, Joel Newman, Malgorzata Dzierzon, Renaud Wiser, Steve Webb
MA
12 months
MFA
18 months
AA Interprofessional Studio (AAIS) explores alternative forms of interdisciplinary collaboration through the research, conception, design and produc
tion of genre-defying construction and spatial performance. By challenging the relationship between art and architecture through the creation unique project-events - dance, theatre and musical performances, exhibitions and festivals - AAIS aims to expose the hidden 'worknet' that overlays multiple professions and their outputs. Operating as an interdisciplinary creative office where knowledge exchange is one of the core points of focus, the studio, offered as a 12-month MA or 18-month MFA, encourages students to develop a language for communicating across creative disciplines. The programme is structured in two phases. Phase 1, running from Term 1 to Term 3, concentrates on design studios and seminar-based lectures on the history and theory of interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration as well as network-based design and organisation and the realisation of applied events and installations that result from the group's various collaborations. Phase 2 concentrates on development of the individual thesis - either as a written dissertation during Term 4 (MA) or as applied practice during Terms 4 and 5 (MFA). Drawing on experts from backgrounds as diverse as performance, design, music, film, photography, fashion, communication and curation, the studio gives students an opportunity to step away from their current research or academic activities to develop new creative skills and grow their professional network. In contrast to typical interdisciplinary design approaches, where individual professions remain in their respective fields of expertise, the AAIS seeks to place students outside their comfort zones so that they may glean knowledge from other disciplines - ultimately influencing, extending and adjusting their own creative process of practice. Alongside lectures, seminars, talks, symposia and workshops, the programme's applied projects in the creative field serve as generators for the year's work, guaranteeing a high level of focus and public participation. Staff
Theo Lorenz (Studio Director) is an architect, painter and media artist. Trespassing between art and architecture, his interests lie at the convergence of digital and physical space. He has taught at the AA since 2000 and has directed the AA Interprofessional Studio since 2008. Tanja Siems (Studio Master) is an urban designer and infrastructural planner and the director of the interdisciplinary practice, T2 spatialwork. She co-leads the AAIS programme and is a professor of urban design at the Bergische University, Germany. Mauricio Pauly (Studio Tutor) is co-artistic director of Distractfold and a founding member of the áltaVoz. He also teaches at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. After studying in San José and in Boston, Miami and The Hague, he obtained a PhD from the University of Manchester's NOVARS Research Centre in 2011
David McAlmont (Studio Tutor) is a singer with 20 years experience as a recording artist, lyric consultant, teacher and workshop facilitator as well as an art historian. Andrew Dean has sold over 20 million records as the songwriter and producer A n R'd. He started life as a world renowned DJ and ater discovered Joss Stone, Bush and Lily Allen. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including Brits, Grammys and Ivor Novellos
David McAlmont is a singer with 20 years experience as a recording artist, lyric consultant, teacher and workshop facilitator as well as an art historian. Heiko Kalmbach is a filmmaker, theatre director and video artist based in Berlin. His award-winning shorts have screened internationally. He is co-founder of the Berlin-based production company Spoonfilm and the performance group Naturaleza Humana
Joel Newman has taught video at the AA since 1998. He exhibited video works at various galleries and events including the AA, the Architecture Foundation, Gasworks Gallery, ICA, Pandaemonium Biennial of Moving Images, Whitechapel Art Gallery and São Paulo Biennale of Alternative Art and Music. Malgorzata is is a Londonbased dancer, choreographer and producer. She has danced with Rambert, Gothenburg Ballet, Singapore Dance Theatre, Peter Schaufuss Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet. As a choreographer she has been commissioned to create work for Kettle's Yard, the Serpentine Gallery and Rambert. Renaud Wiser has worked with renowned companies including the Geneva Ballet, the Ballet National de Marseille, Gothenburg Ballet, Rambert and Bonachela Dance Company. In 2013 Renaud launched Renaud Wiser Dance Company. He is co-founder of the New Movement Collective. Steve Webb is a co-founder of Webb Yates Engineers. He has been involved with many exciting projects including the arch at Wembley Stadium and Calatrava's Turning Torso tower in Malmo.
