Research Focus Areas

Short Biography

Constantin Vidal received his doctorate in 2015 in Art Education from the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna under Prof. Dr. Elisabeth von Samsonow and from the University of Vienna at the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology under Prof. Dr. Thomas Fillitz. His dissertation was entitled "Contemporary Art in East Africa, with a Focus on Uganda and Tanzania, with Special Consideration of the Artists George Kyeyune and George Lilanga." His research focuses on contemporary art in East Africa, particularly in Uganda and Tanzania. He investigated the relationship between art, culture, and society in this context, focusing on the artists George Lilanga and George Kyeyune. His work encompasses topics such as cultural identity, postcolonialism, and social narratives in art. He is a high school teacher and teaches French and Art and Design at the GRG 23 Alterlaa Gymnasium in Vienna. He is also a university lecturer at the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, where he offers seminars such as"Object Biography" and "The Relationship Between Traditional and Modern African Art and the Diaspora." For Vidal, contemporary African art does not separate tradition from modernity; it also incorporates global trends. His teaching combines art, culture, and society, with a focus on contemporary art in East Africa. Through exhibition projects at both institutions, he brings theory and practice together and fosters dialogue between art, culture, and society. In his free time, he is involved with various schools and organizations in Austria and abroad, teaching theoretical and practical skills related to African art and culture through workshops, lectures, seminars, and more.

Selected Publications

• Constantin Vidal (2010) "Die afrikanische Gegenwartskunst und Traditionelle Kunst".In: Kultur Verein: Die Bunte (Hg) Wien, Nr. 6, S.46.
• Constantin Vidal (2011) "The East African Art Biennale Background". In: Kunst und Kultur. The Global player (Hg) Wien, S.39.
• Constantin Vidal (2015) "Kunst und Kulturvermittlung". In: Schuljahresbericht, Elternverein des GRG23 Alterlaa (Hg). Wien S.44.
• Constantin Vidal (2019) "Die Afrikanische Gegenwartskunst und ihr Verhältnis zur traditionellen Kunst Afrikas" Edition Forschung, Münster/Deutschland.
• Constantin Vidal (2022) "Zeitgenössische Kunst in Ostafrika Mit dem Schwerpunkt Uganda und Tansania". LIT Verlag, Münster/Deutschland.

Current Projects

• 3-6/2024 Project Leader of "Inspiration, Reimitation and Rejection" Exhibition of student and Diaspora artists. Research projects by Bachelor students. VS 3.3.6 Art-Media-Narration at KSA.
• 3-6/2026 Project Leader of “Stories in Objects: Exploring Artifact Histories” Exhibition. Research projects by MM3 students (CREOLE-Material Culture) at KSA.
• 25.04.2026 Project Leader "My Classical Modernism," final art project for 8th grade at GRG 23 Alterlaa.
• 25.04.2025 Project Leader "Art and Nature," final art project for 8th grade at GRG 23 Alterlaa.
• 12.04.2024 Project Leader "Impressionism," final art project for 8th grade at GRG 23 Alterlaa.
• 24.04.2023 Project Leader "Surrealism," final art project for 8th grade at GRG 23 Alterlaa.

Lectures and Workshops

• 07/1999 Workshop Leader: "African Mask and Religion," at the University College of Teacher Education Graz
• 09/2005 Workshop Leader: "African Mask and Religion," at the Private University College of Teacher Education of the Diocese of Vienna
• 05/2008 Workshop Leader: "Aspects of African Art," at the Vienna Adult Education Center for the Arts
• 10/2009 Workshop Leader: “African Symbols and Their Meaning”, at the Vienna Adult Education Center for the Arts
• 01/2010 Workshop Leader: “Art in Africa”, at the Vienna Adult Education Center for the Arts
• 02/2014 Workshop Leader: “African Masks in Aesthetic Art”, at the University College of Teacher Education Linz
• 02/2015 Workshop Leader: “African Masks and Their Function”, at the Private University College of Teacher Education of the Diocese of Linz
• 11/2015 Workshop Leader: “The Perceived World: Explorations of the Visual in an Intercultural Context”, at the University College of Teacher Education Vienna/Krems.
• 02/2016 Workshop Leader: “African Symbols in Aesthetic Art”, at the University College of Teacher Education Linz
• 02/2017 Workshop Leader: “African Masks and Ornaments”, at the University College of Teacher Education Linz
• 09/2009 -09/2020 Workshop Instructor: “Check-up Teaching” (NMS) and “Youth as Consumers” (AHS) at the Vienna Chamber of Labor