It is apparent to those involved with design, art, architecture, and scenography that visually appealing and harmonious creations have a positive effect on perception. But neuroaesthetics with its scientific research and applicable insights on how spatial design can benefit health is new to many. In gewerk in the garden 7, curator and philosopher Lukas Feireiss and cognitive scientist Corinna Kühnapfel Ph.D. join us to explore the therapeutic effectiveness of designed spaces. What are the mindsets and approaches that allow designers not only to create spaces that are aesthetically and informatively successful, but also to produce healing effects on the body and mind? Bridging theory and practice, we will explore this topic together in the garden of our studio.
Lukas Feireiss M.A. is a Berlin-based curator, coach, and educator with over two decades of experience in the international cultural and educational sectors. In his work at the intersection of art, science, and holistic approaches, he explores transdisciplinary practices that combine critical reflection with creative experimentation. He has curated numerous significant exhibitions, edited acclaimed publications, and taught at universities around the world. As a founding member of the International Society for Arts and Medicine, he promotes dialogue between artistic and healing practices. In addition, he is a certified Reiki master and, through his coaching practice CURA VISION, supports individuals and organizations in creative, professional, and personal transformation processes.
Corinna Kühnapfel Ph.D. is a postdoctoral researcher in the ERC-funded project “Affective Aesthetic Cognitivism and Wonder” at the Arts and Minds Lab at the Technical University of Berlin. Her research examines how and when art evokes aesthetic, emotional, and transformative experiences, and what role the emotion of wonder and bodily experience play in this process. Previously, she conducted research at Humboldt University of Berlin on the effects of art and aesthetic design in public spaces on perception, well-being, and social connectedness. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Vienna in the field of empirical aesthetics and neuroaesthetics, with a focus on the role of the body in the experience of art. In addition, she is a co-founder of EDGE e.V., an initiative at the intersection of art and neuroscience.
