October – December 2011

Jennifer Teets began her qwatz residence programme on 27 October. Working in close collaboration with the Fondazione Giuliani she concentrated on carrying our some preliminary research into the project Turning Room. The project began with a study of the famous Jesuit Athanasius Kircher, an eclectic figure who lived in the 17th century, a man generally recognised as being one of the most original thinkers of his time and “the last man who knew everything”.

Jennifer Teets curatorial approach is a blend of the type of research carried out by contemporary artists, embracing history, design, formal experimentation and social theories. In the case of ‘Turning Rome’, her investigation began at Villa d’Este, in Tivoli, whose gardens perfectly embody the eclectic, erudite, playful and experimental spirit of Kircher.

During the residency Jennifer Teets organised a presentation/performance to share the findings of the first phase of her research.

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Image: Athanasius Kircher.