About us
The research group Histories of Art, Architecture and Visual Culture (VISU) offers a platform for fundamental research on the history and theory of art, architecture and visual culture from the early modern period up to the present. We study not only the artistic and architectural practice, the material object and the spatial environment, but also the broader cultural, historical and societal context, which often relates to current themes such as new media, visualisation of conflict and war, urbanisation, sustainability, multiculturality and globalisation. Key questions concern the circulation of images, artefacts, practices and knowledge across boundaries. These cross-overs are understood as mutual interactions between the different arts and as exchanges between different cultures, traditions, regions or periods.
Recent News
Call for papers: VROEGMODERNE ECOLOGIEËN
Op 4 september 2026 organiseren de Werkgroep de Zeventiende Eeuw, de Werkgroep de Achttiende Eeuw en de VNVNG voor het eerst samen een jaarcongres, met als thema Vroegmoderne ecologieën.
Medieval and Early Modern Studies Spring School 2026
Materiality, Material Culture and Materialist Approaches – Ghent, 1-5 June 2026 This Spring School is organised by Ghent University (Doctoral Schools), the University of Groningen, the Huizinga Institute and the Dutch Research School for Medieval Studies in cooperation with different research grou...
Open call: Student-symposium ‘Uit de schaduw, in het licht’
Are you an Arts & Philosophy student and are you researching the Book Tower’s Special Collections? On Wednesday, 29 April 2026, a symposium will be held at the magnificent Belvedère in Ghent for students to present their discoveries linked to a title or artwork from the Special Collections.
Events
Practical info20/02/2026 - 13:15 - 20/02/2026 - 14:15CONFERENCE: 'Engström and the others: Swedish single-family housing architecture and the welfare state during the interbellum, 1918-1939'
On Friday, the 20th of February, VISU-member Jelrik Hupkes will present his research during the Research Seminars in Architecture at KTH School of Architecture in Stockholm.
Practical info08/03/2026 - 07:50 - 08/03/2026 - 08:10CONFERENCE: 'Pia Arke and Maud Sulter's Decolonial Visions Through Photography'
On March 8, 2026, VISU-member Brenda Bikoko will take part in Women of Photography 24-Hour Conference-A-Thon with her presentation titled 'Pia Arke and Maud Sulter's Decolonial Visions Through Photography'.
Practical info06/09/2026 - 11:00 - 06/09/2026 - 12:00Lezing: Overvloed en variatie. Flora en fauna in Antwerpse verzamelingen
In deze lezing stelt universitair docent aan de VUB en postdoc-onderzoeker aan de UGent Marlise Rijks je voor aan de natuurliefhebbers van het vroegmoderne Antwerpen. Wat sprak hen zo aan in die fauna en flora? En waarom verzamelden ze massaal prenten van planten en dieren?
