About
Eleni-Ira Panourgia
Sound & Visual Artist
Postdoctoral Research Fellow @ Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF
I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF working on the project ‘Listening to Climate Change’ funded by Postdoc Network Brandenburg. My work focuses on intersections and combinations of visual-spatial and sonic dimensions in a responsive and interactive way in relation to materials, environments and technologies. I have completed a PhD in Art (2019) titled ‘Co-composition processes: form, structure and time across sculpture and sound’ at the University of Edinburgh as a Scholar of the Onassis Foundation. I hold an integrated Masters in Fine Arts (2014) from Athens School of Fine Arts. I have studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris as an Erasmus exchange student (2012-13). I have also studied music performance of piano and cello, and I hold a degree in Harmony (2008) from the Music School of Aghia Paraskevi in Athens, Greece. I am an Associate Fellow of Higher Education Academy and co-founder and managing editor of Airea: Arts and Interdisciplinary Research journal hosted by Edinburgh University Library. My artistic work is presented internationally in festivals, museums, exhibitions and radio shows. Significant examples include: Chicago Architecture Center (USA) (2024), Venice International Architecture Biennale (IT) (2023), Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine (FR) (2023), Prague Quadrennial (CZ) (2023), CTM Vorspiel (DE) (2023), Festival Espacios Resonantes (CL) (2022), dublab radio (USA) (2022), La Hora Acusmática (AR) (2021), Gaudeamus Muziekweek, commission (NL) (2021), Framework Radio (UK) (2020), Riverside Museum (UK) (2019), Edinburgh International Festival (UK) (2018), The Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture (UK) (2018).
Research Interests
My research focuses on a) sound, 3D/sculptural objects and materials, and b) sound, space and environmental perception. I am interested in developing new forms of expression and creative methods that bring together different disciplines, media and dimensions. I am exploring the potential of such complex morphologies within artistic, design, social and ecological processes. My research interests also include audio-visual relationships, participatory and interactive design.
CV
Professional experience
2022-present Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, Germany (Individual Grant Postdoc Network Brandenburg)
2019-2022 Teaching and Research Fellow in Art/Sound, Gustave Eiffel University (former Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée), UFR Letters, Arts, Creation, Technologies, France
2018-2019 Teaching Fellow in Art and Design, Digital Animation, Centre for Open Learning, University of Edinburgh, UK
2017-2019 Project supervisor, Digital Media Studio Project Master course, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, UK
2017-2018 Tutor in Creative Music Technology Undergraduate course, Reid School of Music, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, UK
2017-2018 Mentor in Masters-to-PhD scheme, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, UK
2016-2018 Tutor in Music on Screen Master course, Reid School of Music, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, UK
2015-2019 PhD candidate, School of Art, Reid School of Music, Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art, Univeristy of Edinburgh, UK (Scholarship for Hellenes Onassis Foundation & Educational Grant A.G. Leventis Foundation)
2014 Teaching Assistant in Mosaics, Athens School of Fine Arts, Greece
I have been working as a visual artist since 2009. I have worked in cultural institutions such as the Tsichritzis Foundation for the Visual Arts in Greece, in art galleries for the production of exhibitions such as in Gallery Beton7 in Athens, Greece, in artists’ workshops for the realization of commissions and monuments. I have also collaborated with art foundries.
Sound artistI have been creating sound for installations, performances, exhibition spaces, web and sound applications, animation, short films and video art since 2013. In 2020 I released my debut album Enacting Traces on Melor Records, Los Angeles US.
Curatorial projects
Along with my artistic practice, I have been involved in the following curatorial projects:
2018 3D Blockchain exhibition at Evolution House, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh.
2017 Performances in sIREN Conference 2017, University of Edinburgh.
2016 ‘Creative Material Play: A Showcase’ in Matthew Gallery, Minto House, ESALA, University of Edinburgh.
2014 Athens School of Fine Arts Degree Show.
2013 Group Exhibition ‘Atelier Belloir,’ École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris.
Education
Thesis Title: Co-composition processes: Form, structure and time across sculpture and sound. Doctoral Scholarship from the Onassis Foundation Scholarship Program for Hellenes (Greece) and Doctoral Grant from the A.G. Leventis Foundation (Cyprus). University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh College of Art.
Sep 2012 – Feb 2013 Master 1 Sculpture and Multimedia (First Class)Erasmus scholarship from Athens School of Fine Arts and the European Union for studying in École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, France.
Sep 2009 – Jul 2014 Integrated Masters in Sculpture and Visual Arts with Teaching Qualification (First Class)Thesis on sculpture, sound and animation.
5-year program in Athens School of Fine Arts, Greece. Modules included: Sculpture (major), Painting, Printmaking, Mosaic, History of Art, Theory of Space and History of Architecture, Architectural Design, Philosophy and Aesthetics, Art Teaching, Psychology of Education and Museum Studies.
Sep 2008 – Jun 2010 Counterpoint and Composition
Aghia Paraskevi School of Music, Athens, Greece.
Sep 2007 – Sep 2012 Cello PerformanceAghia Paraskevi School of Music, Athens, Greece.
Sep 2005 – Jun 2008 Degree in Harmony (First Class)Aghia Paraskevi School of Music, Athens, Greece.
Modules included: Counterpoint, History of Music, Solfege, Piano Performance, Teaching and Choir. Aghia Paraskevi School of Music, Athens, Greece.
Kalivia of Attica School of Music, Kalivia of Attica, Greece.
Awards & Grants
2023 International Community for Auditory Display Award for Best Student Paper at the 28th International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD 2023).
2022 International Award for Excellence for the Arts in Society Journal Collection.
2021 Individual Grant for Postdoctoral Researchers, Postdoc Network Brandenburg.
2021 Qualification aux fonctions de Maître de Conférences, Conseil National des Universités.
2020 Erasmus+ Teaching Mobility for Academic Staff Fund.
2020 Bonus Qualité Enseignement Fund, Université Gustave Eiffel.
2019 Erasmus+ Teaching Mobility for Academic Staff Fund.
2019 Bonus Qualité Enseignement Fund, Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée.
2019 Edinburgh Teaching Award, Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, University of Edinburgh.
2018 Devolved Researcher Funding from Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh.
2018 Innovative Initiative Grant, University of Edinburgh.
2018 Special Mention, Celebrating Women in Sound, Women in Sound Women on Sound (WISWOS) for “Enclosure” by Eleni-Ira Panourgia.
2017 Festival of Creative Learning Fund from the Institute of Academic Development, University of Edinburgh for organizing the '3D Blockchain' workshop.
2017 Principal's Go Abroad Fund, University of Edinburgh for presenting in The Arts in Society Conference in Paris, France.
2017 Researcher-led Initiative Fund from the Institute of Academic Development, University of Edinburgh for organizing the Arts and Digital Practices Conference.
2017 Devolved Researcher Funding from Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh for organizing the Arts and Digital Practices Conference.
2016 Digital Scholarship Training Fund from CAHSS, University of Edinburgh for undertaking the two-day Advanced course of AudioSculpt in IRCAM, Paris, France.
2016 Postgraduate Research Expenses Grant from Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh for presenting in GA2016 Conference in Florence, Italy.
2016 Researcher-led Initiative Fund from the Institute of Academic Development, University of Edinburgh for organizing monthly seminar series and a conference in interdisciplinary research for the academic year 2016/2017.
2016 Doctoral Scholarship from the Onassis Foundation Scholarship, Program for Hellenes.
2016 Devolved Researcher Funding from Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh for establishing sIREN (student-led Interdisciplinary REsearch Network).
2016 Postgraduate Research Expenses Grant from Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh for undertaking archival research in Paul Sacher Foundation in Basel, Switzerland.
2016 Edinburgh Award from the University of Edinburgh.
2016 Leadership Award from the University of Edinburgh.
2016 Three nominations of the 'Creative Material Play' workshop in the Innovative Learning Week awards as the ‘Most Creative,’ ‘Most Experimental’ and ‘Most Impact’, University of Edinburgh.
2016 Innovative Learning Week Fund from the Institute of Academic Development, University of Edinburgh for organizing ‘Creative Material Play’ workshop.
2015 1-year Doctoral Grant from the A.G. Leventis Foundation.
2015 Postgraduate Research Expenses Grant from Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh for attending ‘Other Harmony’ MaMuX seminar in IRCAM, Paris, France.
2012 Erasmus scholarship from Athens School of Fine Arts and the European Union for studying in École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, France.
Teaching
2024 Workshop 'Environmental Sound Storytelling' CX Class, Creative Exchange (CX) Studio, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF.
2024 Seminar 'Prototypes for Climate Changed Sounds' Master Creative Technologies, Pitching & Peer-Review, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF.
2023 Guest Teaching Input 'Urban Futures' MA2 course, Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Sheffield.
2023 Guest Lecture 'The Quercetum Chorus Workshop' Department of Landscape Architecture, California Polytechnic State University, Pomona.
2023 Workshop ' Climate Change Sounds: Artistic Approaches to Capture the Phenomenon of Climate Change in Sound and Immersive Soundscapes' OMNILAB Laboratory for Immersive Storytelling, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF.
2023 Seminar 'Processing Sound in Response to Climate Scenarios and Sensory Methodologies' Master Creative Technologies, Pitching & Peer-Review, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF.
2023 Seminar 'Sensory Methodologies for Revealing the Effects of Climate Change on Landscapes' Master Creative Technologies, Pitching & Peer-Review, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF.
2023 Guest Research Workshop Bachelor Music and Sound Professions, Sound Design, Transmedia and Digital Humanities, UFR Lettres, Arts, Créations et Technologies (LACT), Université Gustave Eiffel.
2022 Seminar 'Listening to Climate Change: The Role of Sound and New Media Formats for Enhancing Environmental Perception' Master Creative Technologies, Pitching & Peer-Review, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF.
2022 Guest Research Workshop 'Listening to Trees: Sound, Ecology, Processes' Bachelor, Department of Landscape Architecture, California Polytechnic State University, Pomona.
2022 Teaching Mobility Erasmus+ Bachelor, Master and PhD, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, Musicology Department, Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
2021 Teaching Mobility Erasmus+ Master Creative Technologies and Sound Department, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF.
2021 Guest Research Workshops 'Sonic Identities of Trees' & 'Treescapes' Master Landscape Design Studio, Department of Landscape Architecture, California Polytechnic State University, Pomona.
2019-2023 Dissertation supervisor Master Création Musicale et Arts Sonores (INA GRM parternship), Master Musique et Production Musicale, Master Musique et Informatique Musicale, UFR Lettres, Arts, Créations et Technologies (LACT), Université Gustave Eiffel (ex Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée).
2019-2022 Teaching Fellow in Arts/Music, Undergraduate and Masters programmes, UFR Lettres, Arts, Créations et Technologies (LACT), Université Gustave Eiffel (ex Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée).
2019 Tutor in Digital Media Studio Project Masters course ‘Developing Multidimensional Objects’, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh.
2019 Teaching Fellow in Art and Design, Centre for Open Learning, University of Edinburgh.
2018 Tutor in Music on Screen Masters course, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh.
2018 Tutor in Creative Music Technology Undergraduate course, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh.
2018 Teaching Fellow in Art and Design, Centre for Open Learning, University of Edinburgh.
2018 Project supervisor in Digital Media Studio Project Masters course ‘Developing Multidimensional Objects’, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh.
2017 Mentor Masters-to-PhD scheme, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh.
2017 Tutor in Music on Screen Masters course, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh.
2017 Workshop tutorial in Creative Music Technology Undergraduate course, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh.
2017 Workshop An Introduction to IRCAM AudioSculpt, University of Edinburgh.
2017 Project supervisor in Digital Media Studio Project Masters course ‘Developing Multidimensional Objects’, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh.
2016 Tutor in Music on Screen Masters course, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh.
2014 Teaching Assistant in Mosaic, Athens School of Fine Arts.
2013 Teaching Art in two Secondary Schools in Salamis, Greece.
2009 Teaching Theory of Music and Harmony in Aghia Paraskevi School of Music, Athens, Greece.
Organization and reviewing
Contemporary Music Review, Taylor & Francis, special issue 'Co-compositional Practice and Style in Contemporary Music and Sound Art'
Oct 2022 Co-organizerUNESCO Week of Sound Scotland, launch event of the UNESCO Week of Sound in Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh
May 2022 Co-organizerSound Design(ed) Futures: New realities, spaces, technologies, one-day international conference, Gustave Eiffel University
Mar 2021 Co-organizerCréation et fictions soniques : ville, territoire, environnement, research seminar as part of I-Site Future - PARVIS "Imaginaires futuristes de la ville" Research Project, Gustave Eiffel University
Apr-May 2019 Co-organizerCrafting a Digital Object, workshop as part of RAFT Research Group, Design Informatics, University of Edinburgh
Since Apr 2019 Reviewer Apr 2018 ContributorEdinburgh CitySounds, University of Edinburgh
Mar 2018 Co-organizerDataVisFest on (In)equality and Inclusion, University of Edinburgh, DataFest Edinburgh
Feb 2018 Co-organizer3D Blockchain workshop during the Festival of Creative Learning, University of Edinburgh
Since Oct 2017 ReviewerThe International Journal of the Inclusive Museum
Since Jun 2017 Journal co-founder, co-editor and managerAirea: Arts and Interdisciplinary Research
Dec 2016 - May 2017 Co-organizerArts and Digital Practices 2017 Conference
Conference workshops with Trevor Wishart (Institute of Sonology) “Sound Loom / Composers Desktop Project”; Kristina Andersen (STEIM, Amsterdam) “Hypothetical Instruments”; Chris Speed and Bettina Nissen (ECA, Design Informatics) “Re-imagining the city as a value platform”.
Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh
Since Jun 2016 Co-founder and co-organizersIREN (Interdisciplinary Research Network)
sIREN workshops and seminar series on Arts and Interdisciplinarity
'Creative Material Play' workshop during the Innovative Learning Week, University of Edinburgh
Showcase of 'Creative Material Play' workshop and outcomes in the Interactive Space of TEDxUniversityofEdinburgh 2015/16
Exhibition of 'Creative Material Play' outcomes in Mathew Gallery at Minto House, University of Edinburgh
Talks and Presentations
Dec 8, 2023, "Processus de co-composition entre le son et la sculpture", Institut ACTE, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris, France.
Oct 24, 2023 "Sounds of Climate Changed Landscapes", Landscape Research Seminar, Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Sheffield, UK.
Oct 17, 2023 "Sounds of Water Environments under Stress", UNESCO Week of Sound, Edinburgh, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, UK, 16-20 October 2023
Aug 31, 2023 "Imaginary Devices for Listening to Water: Environmental Change, Wateriness and the Partiality of Perception", RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 2023, Royal Geographical Society and Imperial College London, UK, 29 August-1 September 2023
Jul 18, 2023 "Climate Changed Sounds", Department of Digital and Performing Arts, University of the Peloponnese, Nafplion, Greece, online
Jun 27, 2023 "Akademischer Karriereweg über Artistic PhD bis hin zur Postdoc-Stelle", Austauschrunde Dekan*innen und Akademischer Mittelbau, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, Potsdam, Germany, online
Jun 17, 2023 "The Quercetum Chorus Workshop", PCAH2023 Conference, Maison de la Chimie, Paris, France, 16-19 June 2023
May 5, 2023 "Listening Encounters with the Shifting Rhythms and Frequencies of Climate Change", Uncommon Senses IV: Sensory Ecologies, Economies and Aesthetics 2023 Conference, Centre for Sensory Studies, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, 3-6 May 2023
May 3, 2023 "Ways of Knowing Trees Through Sound, Movement and Drawing", Uncommon Senses IV: Sensory Ecologies, Economies and Aesthetics 2023 Conference, Centre for Sensory Studies, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, 3-6 May 2023
Apr 28, 2023 "Sonic Kinesthetic Forest: An Interdisciplinary Arts Approach for Knowing and Being with Trees", The 4th Artful Inquiry Research Group International Symposium, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, 27-28 April 2023
Jan 24, 2023 "Listening to Climate Change", International Symposium Transformative Climate Media for Urban Futures: Imagination, Interaction, Impact, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF / Climate Media Factory, ZeM – Brandenburgisches Zentrum für Medienwissenschaften, Potsdam, Germany, 24-25 January 2023
Oct 8, 2022 "Listening to Trees: A Sonic Kinesthetic Approach", GLASS CANADA: Listening as a Shared and Social Practice Conference, University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada and online, 7-8 October 2022
Jul 8, 2022 "Sonic Kinesthetic Forest: Listening to and Dancing With Trees", The European Conference on Arts, Design & Education (ECADE2022), University of Porto, Portugal, 7-10 July 2022
Jul 5, 2022 "Sensory Walks for Climate Perception: The Role of Sound in Climate Change Narratives and Speculation", 17th International Conference on the Arts in Society, University of San Jorge, Zaragoza, Spain, 4-6 July 2022
Jun 27, "Sonic Kinaesthetic Forest", Sentient Performativities: thinking alongside the human Symposium, Dartington, UK and online, 26-29 June 2022
Jun 26, "Sonic Kinesthetic Forest", Children, Youth, and Performance Conference, York University, Canada, online, 24-26 June 2022
Jan 17, 2022 Presentation of the UNESCO Week of Sound in the UK, UNESCO, Paris
Jun 16, 2021 "Field recording and speculative sound design for urban environments", 16th International Conference on the Arts in Society, University of Western Australia, online, 16-18 June 2021
May 26, 2021 "Form, energy and action across sound, sculpture and performance", Department of Digital and Performing Arts, University of the Peloponnese, Nafplion, Greece, online
May 7, 2021 "Sonic Kinesthetic Forest", Uncommon Senses III: The Future of the Senses 2021 Conference, Centre for Sensory Studies, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, online, 6-9 May 2021
May 6, 2021 "Seeing the Sound: The Visual Manifestation of Music", Panel discussion ‘Seeing the Sound: The Visual Manifestation of Music’, Avid Learning Mumbai, India, online
May 6, 2021 "Sonic speculations: towards an eco-critical listening", International Conference “The City in Climate Fictions”, I-Site Future - PARVIS "Imaginaires futuristes de la ville", Gustave Eiffel University, France, online, 5-6 May 2021
Mar 5, 2021 "Field recording et design sonore spéculatif en milieu urbain", Création et fictions soniques : ville, territoire, environnement research seminar as part of I-Site Future - PARVIS "Imaginaires futuristes de la ville" Research Project, Gustave Eiffel University, France, online
Feb 25, 2021 "Constructing Behaviour from Physical to Digital: Form, response and playability across sound and sculpture", Coding Literacy, Practices & Cultures networked series of research colloquia, Film University KONRAD WOLF and University of Magdeburg, Germany, online
Dec 12, 2020 "Web-canvas: Creating an online interactive process between sound and image", Seeing Sound 2020, Bath Spa University, UK, online, 12-13 December 2020
Oct 3, 2020 "Schíma – morphḗ – íchos: form, structure and playability across sound and sculpture", IMMSANE Zurich 2020, Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland, 1-3 October 2020
Jun 26, 2020 "La recherche-création en musique", Parvis (Paroles des Villes) Research Seminar, Université Gustave Eiffel, France
Jun 24, 2020 "Sonic fictions", 15th International Conference on The Arts in Society, NUI Galway, Ireland, 24-26 June 2020
Feb 22, 2020 "Sculptural sounds: a co-compositional approach", The Edinburgh Festival of Sound, UK
Jul 3, 2019 "Co-composition processes", Minor Movements Celebration, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, UK
Mar 22, 2019 "Gaps as interface: Navigating the edges of artistic media", 10th SAR International Conference on Artistic Research, Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland, 21-23 March 2019
Jun 27, 2018 "Reach IV, V and VI: Making sculpture with concrete formwork", Materiality Symposium, Tent Gallery, University of Edinburgh, UK
Feb 19, 2018 “From intangible to tangible”, ‘3D Blockchain’ workshop, Festival of Creative Learning, University of Edinburgh, UK
June 16, 2017 “A Participatory Music Journey in Museum Space”, 12th International Conference on the Arts in Society, The American University of Paris, France, 14-16 June 2017
May 31, 2017 “Digital interactions: Sound and three-dimensional forms”, Panourgia, E., Wheelaghan, F. & Yang, X. sIREN International Conference: Arts and Digital Practices, University of Edinburgh, UK, 30-31 May 2017
Dec 16, 2016 “Spectrogram data as system for making sculpture”, GA2016 - 19th International Generative Art Conference, Florence, Italy, 15-17 December 2016
Dec 7, 2016 “Identifying limitations of methods in interdisciplinary research”, in sIREN seminar series 2016/17, University of Edinburgh, UK
Feb 15, 2016 “Introduction to Materials”, ‘Creative Material Play’ workshop, Innovative Learning Week, University of Edinburgh, UK
Nov 25, 2015 Postgraduate Research Methods Symposium, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, UK
2014 “Teaching art: animation projects”, Athens School of Fine Arts, Greece
2013 “Museum education: an interdisciplinary approach to museum exhibits”, Athens School of Fine Arts, Greece
Membership
Audio Leakage Community
Brandenburg Center for Media Studies (ZeM)
Landscape Research Group
International Ambiances Network
International Media Music and Sound Arts Network in Education
Laboratoire LISAA - Littératures, SAvoirs et Arts, Gustave Eiffel University
Research Centre for Creative-Relational Inquiry, University of Edinburgh
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Onassis Scholars' Association
Common Ground Research Networks
Greek Sculptors’ Association
Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece
RAFT Research Group, University of Edinburgh