Archivio Conz

Nicholas Zurbrugg (1947–2001) was a British academic, writer, and critic known for his work on postmodernism, avant-garde art, and multimedia culture. His research bridged literature, visual arts, and media theory, making significant contributions to the study of contemporary art and cultural criticism. Zurbrugg pursued his education at the University of Neuchâtel, the University of East Anglia, and St John’s College, Oxford. His early academic focus was on modernist literature, culminating in a Ph.D. that examined the works of Marcel Proust and Samuel Beckett, reflecting his deep engagement with experimental literary forms. In 1978, he joined Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, where he lectured in comparative literature and became a central figure in promoting postmodern and multimedia art. His research explored the intersections of literature, visual art, and digital culture, leading him to organize exhibitions and international conferences on avant-garde art and media theory. In 1995, he moved to De Montfort University in Leicester, England, where he was appointed Professor of English and Cultural Studies and later served as Director of the Centre for Contemporary Arts. Zurbrugg’s writings provided critical insights into the changing landscape of contemporary art and media. His major publications include Beckett and Proust (1988), which examined connections between the two authors; The Parameters of Postmodernism (1993), a key text on postmodern culture; Jean Baudrillard: Art and Artefact (1997), analyzing Baudrillard’s influence on art; and Art, Performance, Media: 31 Interviews (2004), a collection of conversations with influential artists and theorists. He was also the editor of Stereo Headphones, a journal dedicated to concrete poetry, further cementing his role in interdisciplinary art criticism. Throughout his career, Zurbrugg collaborated with prominent artists and thinkers, including J.G. Ballard, conducting interviews that provided unique perspectives on contemporary culture. His work remains influential in academic and artistic circles, shaping discussions on media theory, digital art, and postmodern aesthetics. Nicholas Zurbrugg had a strong connection to the avant-garde and collaborated with Francesco Conz on projects related to Fluxus and intermedia art. In 1990, he co-curated the exhibition Fluxus! alongside Conz and Nicholas Tsoutas at the Institute of Modern Art in Brisbane, highlighting the movement’s experimental and interdisciplinary nature. Zurbrugg also explored Conz’s influence within the avant-garde in his writings, including his book Francesco Conz and the Intermedia Avant-Garde, which examined Conz’s role in preserving and promoting Fluxus and related artistic movements. In 1998, he curated Rethinking the Avant-Garde at Phoenix Arts and The Centre for Contemporary Arts, De Montfort University, Leicester, November 1998 a multi-day event that combined performances, exhibitions, and discussions featuring key figures in avant-garde and Fluxus history.