TRANSDISCOURSE 3: Women in Art, Science and Body Politics.

Welcome to the book launch in context of the recent anthology TRANSDISCOURSE 3: Women in art, science and body politics (ed. by Jill Scott, Berlin; Boston: De Gruyter, 2025), a publication with transdisciplinary studies that explore the dynamic intersections of discovery, creativity, and inclusive futures from the arts and the sciences. There will be talks on-site with Jill Scott, Christa Sommerer, Alexandra Krawiec, Inês Montalvão, with an introduction by Regine Rapp (more information see below, please register, free entry). This event is a collaboration between Art Laboratory Berlin and SciArt Zürich.

INTRODUCTION

Over the last 50 years, some artists have explored the representation of the female body and gender equality and reflect on the cultural, political, and historical forces that shape gendered experiences across race, class, ability, and time. However, the personal reflections of artists who work with scientists can only deepen these investigations and provide an insight into the lived realities and emotional landscapes that are often absent from traditional scholarship. Such narratives may offer alternative ways of thinking about environmental justice, representation and power. How can artists and scientists challenge dominant ideologies and encourage audiences to discuss the impact of gender on society and the culture/nature divide? How might issues of gender, knowledge, and power dynamics influence artistic and scientific processes and practices in the future?

ABOUT THIS BOOK

This book unites 26 international women mainly from the arts to explore dynamic intersections of science, body politics, and inclusive futures. Through creative approaches and collaboration with scientists, they reflect on the ethics of care and urgent social and environmental issues. Divided into five themes (“Contextualizations”, “Personal Reflections”, “Exhibitions”, “Conversations” and “Investigations”), the authors explore how the rethinking of creativity and body politics might affect human rights, sustainability, bodily representations, and personal expressions. Transdiscourse 3 is a unique space for dialogue and a vital transdisciplinary resource, designed to inspire and encourage others to engage with creativity, discovery, and change.

ARTISTS AND SCIENTISTS PRESENTED IN THE BOOK

Natascha Bates, María Fernandez, Svenja Kratz, Alexandra Krawiec, Inês Montalvão, Rachael Parsons, Lubi Thomas/Trish Adams, Jane Prophet, Rahbel Rahman, Afton Hassett, Helen Pynor and Bigna Lenggenhager, Claudia Schnugg, Daniela Brill/Christian Stary, Jill Scott, Rewa Wright/Clarissa Ribeiro, Christa Sommerer, Margeret Tan/Kathleen Ditzig, Victoria Vesna, Karen Ann Wong-Dorall.

SPEAKERS AT THE EVENT on 29 August 2026

Regine Rapp, Art Laboratory Berlin: Introduction

Jill Scott: An International Herstory

Christa Sommerer: A Personal Journey – Botany, Art & Media

Alexandra Krawiec: The Impact of Emergent Challenges on Women

Inês Montalvão: Art as Evidence – Art and Science Collaborations

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Prof Dr Jill Scott is a media artist, writer and neuroscience researcher. Besides many international exhibitions, she curates the LASER Zurich for Leonardo Society USA, is director of SciArt Switzerland, as Professor at the University of the Arts (ZhdK) in Zurich she founded the Artists-in-Labs Program. https://www.jillscott.org

Prof Dr Christa Sommerer is a media artist, botanist and multidisciplinary researcher. Together with Laurent Mignonneau, she has had many international exhibitions. They both established the Department of Interface Cultures in Linz, Austria and published the book The Artwork as a Living System. https://interface.ufg.ac.at/christa-laurent/

Prof Dr Alexandra Krawiec is a philosopher, journalist and fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), the RSA’s representative in Poland. She is advisor in the European Union and specializes in Artificial Intelligence and Women’s representation. She has also worked for many years at the Polish Academy of Sciences. https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/309607/1/1668939010.pdf

Dr Inês Montalvão is a Portuguese exhibition designer and science curator, based in Helsinki, Finland, where she co-founded Mandarina Collective, an international organisation fosters dialogue and innovation within the art–science field. She is also program director for “Artist with Evidence” (AWE). https://linktr.ee/inesmontalvao

Regine Rapp is an art historian, curator and co-director of Art Laboratory Berlin, whose research and curatorial practice foreground feminist technoscience, hybrid and bio art, and women’s contributions to art–science–technology collaborations in the 20th and 21st centuries.