Rahel Kesselring
Rahel Kesselring is a cultural scientist and scenographer with a focus on site-specific and experimental performative settings. She is a Pre-Doctoral Researcher at the Department of Cultural History and Theory at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and part of the research project Active Trees — Knowledge, Technologies and Futures at the Cluster »Matters of Activity«. Her doctoral project investigates concepts and representations of ›sentience‹ in plants, trees and forests in works of contemporary art at the interface between plant studies, art and cultural theory.
Rahel studied Applied Theater Studies in Giessen (D) and scenography in Basel and Vienna. Most recently she worked as a Research Associate and lecturer at Zurich University of the Arts. As a scenographer she is working in the field of performance and theater in various collaborations within a European context, i.a. for steirischen herbst, Frankfurter Positionen, Maerzmusik Berlin, Wien Modern, far° Festival Nyon and implantieren Festival Frankfurt, Ashkal Alwan Beirut, Mousonturm Frankfurt, Kaserne Basel, Gessnerallee Zurich.
Cluster of Excellence
»Matters of Activity«
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Sophienstr. 22a
10178 Berlin
Teaching & Courses
Burger, S., Chetwynd, M., Kesselring, R. Axolots, Frankenstein and Other Beloved Monsters: A Seminar on the History and Potential of Monstrous Beings. Block Seminar, BA Fine Arts/BA Theater, Zurich University of the Arts. 5 September 2022 - 16 September 2022.
Fistarol, N., Kesselring, R. Strapped Tensions: Spatial Interactions in Urban Environments. Practical course, MA Theater, Zurich University of the Arts. 9 May 2022 - 13 May 2022.
Kesselring, R., Sobottka, S. Positionen performativer Raumkunst. Lecture series, BA Stage Design, Zurich University of the Arts. 21 February 2022 - 9 May 2022.
Kesselring, R., Sander, L., Wicke, J. Swamp: Aesthetic ecologies on moving ground. Teaching Research Project, MA Theater, Zurich University of the Arts. 1 March 2021 - 4 June 2021.
Dreifuss, R., Kesselring, R., Lampert, F., Purtschert, P., Weber, B. Master Cluster Lab. Practical course, Department of Performing Arts and Film, Zurich University of the Arts. 24 February 2020 - 6 March 2020.
https://intern.zhdk.ch/?vorlesungsverzeichnis&semester_id=151060&cc_page_id=-2122&course_id=215602
Kesselring, R. Der Moment nach der Katastrophe: Über die Darstellbarkeit katastrophischer Ereignisse in Positionen der Kunst. Lecture, MA Theater, Zurich University of the Arts. 17 February 2020.
Kesselring, R. Talking Spaces: Raum-, Atmosphären- und Aufführungsanalyse. Seminar, BA Stage Design, Zurich University of the Arts. 29 September 2019 - 3 December 2019.
Kesselring, R. Déjà Vu: On the Speculative Presence of Reenactments. Lecture, Institut für Angewandte Theaterwissenschaft, Gießen. 2 July 2015.
External Grants, Fellowships, Scholarships & Residencies
Achour, A., Champlin, A., Fatehi, S., Kesselring, R., Quast, H., Rothfuchs, T. 2021. Program for Emerging Artistic Researchers PEERS. Institute for the Performing Arts and Film, Zurich Academy of the Arts Scholarship.
Kesselring, R. 2014. Home Workspace Program HWP. Ashkal Alwan, Lebanese Association for Plastic Arts, Beirut. Residency.