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Dr. Ekaterina I. Vikulina

E-mail: ekaterina.vikulina (@) uni-potsdam.de

Fields of Interests

Holocaust Studies, Media Studies, Memory Studies, Cultural Studies, Urban Studies, Representation of the Body, History of Photography, Soviet Thaw culture

Education and Academic Qualifications

  • Russian State University for the Humanities (Moscow, Russia): Ph.D. in Cultural Studies, 2009–2012
  • European University in Saint- Petersburg (Saint- Petersburg, Russia): Art History Master of Art, 2001–2005
  • Academy of Fine Arts (Saint-Petersburg, Russia): Diploma in Art History, 1994–2000

Professional Assignments 

Current Positions

  • Research Fellow, Department of Slavic Studies, University of Potsdam (Dec 2025 – Nov 2026)
  • Head of Culture and Research Department, Riga Ghetto and Latvian Holocaust Museum (2024 – present)
  • Chairperson, Centre for Cultural and Academic Communication “Inspired”, Riga (2009 – present)

Previous Academic & Teaching Experience

  • Associate Professor, Department of Cultural Studies and Social Communication, Russian State University for the Humanities, Moscow
  • Lecturer, International Higher School of Practical Psychology, Riga

Grants and Residences

  • 2025 The State Culture Capital Foundation (Latvia).
  • 2019, 2021 Residence in Starptautiskā Rakstnieku un tulkotāju māja (The International House of Writers and Translators) in Ventspils.
  • 2019, 2021 The State Culture Capital Foundation (Latvia). Research of Latvian photography, preparation of photo exhibitions
  • 2009–2012 The scholarship for postgraduate (Ph.D. degree) studies, provided by the Embassy of the Russian Federation 
  • 2007–2009 The State Culture Capital Foundation (Latvia). Several grants given on research of contemporary photography in Latvia, Russia and Germany.

Selected Academic Publications

  • Vikulina, E. I. (2023). The body in photography: From representation to presence. In Visual Image and Its Medium: Cultural Contexts and Interpretations. Moscow: RSUH.
  • Vikulina, E. (2022). Latvian photography of the 1960s: Between art and censorship. In M. Loader, S. Hearne, & M. Kott (Eds.), Defining Latvia: Recent explorations in history, culture, and politics (pp. 189–212). Central European University Press.
  • Vikulina, E. I. (2022). Heartfelt meetings: Emotional regime of the Thaw period in comments to government photos. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin. Literary Theory. Linguistics. Cultural Studies, (2), 108–124.
  • Vikulina, E. I. (2020). Transformation of imagery in the Baltic photography of the 1960s: Periodical printing and photo club movement. Human in the Socio‑Cultural Dimension, 1, 42–49.
  • Vikulina, E. I. (2019). What are they worried about? Why are they smiling? Emotional repertoire in magazines’ photography of the Thaw. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin. Literary Theory. Linguistics. Cultural Studies, (5), 129–147.
  • Vikulina, E. (2019). Power and the body: Images of the leaders in Soviet magazines during the Cold War. In H. G. Bastiansen, M. Klimke, & R. Werenskjold (Eds.), Between Star Wars and Glasnost (pp. 283–310). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Vikulina, E. I. (2018). The Soviet space odyssey: Star chronicle of the Thaw. Bulletin of PNRPU: Culture, History, Philosophy, Law, (2), 137–147.
  • Vikulina, E. I. (2017). Photography of the 1960s: The new canon. Film Art, (4), 64–70.
  • Vikulina, E.  (2015). Power and the media: The visual revolution of the 1960s. Cahiers du Monde Russe, 56(2), 429–466.
  • Vikulina, E. I. (2015). Paternalistic images of power in Soviet photography. Baltic Worlds, Special Section 1–2, 48–56.
  • Vikulina, E. I. (2011). Representation of gender in the Soviet photography of the Thaw. Contemporary Discourse Analysis, (5), 21–34.
  • Vikulina, E. I. (2011). Looking back to the nineties. Photography and Technology, (4), 112–119.
  • Vikulina, E. I. (2010). Construction of a new corporeality: Medicalization and taking care of yourself during the Thaw. SOCIS: Social Studies, (9), 113–119.
  • Vikulina, E. I. (2008). Urban scarecrow: The body in Latvian street advertisement. In P.S. Landscapes: Optics for Urban Studies (pp. 309–333). Vilnius: EHU.
  • Vikulina, E. I. (2008). The body in social advertisement: Latvian case. In In the Shadow of the Body (pp. 175–182). Ulyanovsk.
  • Vikulina, E. I. (2005). The body of the Thaw: The view of the amateur. In Visual Aspects of Culture (pp. 136–142). Izhevsk.

Work as Art Critic and Journalist

  • Extensive experience as an art critic and journalist, contributing to a range of print and digital media outlets across Latvia, Russia, and the UK since 1996, including Arterritory, Art&Times, Studija, Foto Kvartāls, Kino Raksti, and the BBC Russian Service.

Work as Photographer for leading Latvian newspapers and magazines

  • Photographs published in Vakara Ziņas, Chas, Riga This Week, and Telegraph, among other publications (1997–2008).

Grants and Residences

  • 2025 The State Culture Capital Foundation (Latvia).
  • 2019, 2021 Residence in Starptautiskā Rakstnieku un tulkotāju māja (The International House of Writers and Translators) in Ventspils.
  • 2019, 2021 The State Culture Capital Foundation (Latvia). Research of Latvian photography, preparation of photo exhibitions
  • 2016, 2018   ASEEES-MAG Summer Convention Travel Grant Recepient
  • 2009–2012 The scholarship for postgraduate (Ph.D. degree) studies, provided by the Embassy of the Russian Federation 
  • 2007–2009, 2025 The State Culture Capital Foundation (Latvia)
  • Several grants given on research of modern photography in Latvia, Russia and Germany; interviews with photographers and artists; articles about art and photography for Latvian magazines.

Curatorial Practice and Artistic Exhibitions

  • Curator of art exhibitions “Bitter Herbs” at the Riga Ghetto and Latvian Holocaust Museum (2025), “The Sixties: Looking at the City” at the Latvian Museum of Architecture (2020) and “Vol II” (Riga, 2005).

Personal Exhibitions (selected)

  • Participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions across Latvia, Russia, and Germany, including “Dolce Vita. Federico Fellini” (New Exhibition Hall of the State Museum of Urban Sculpture, St. Petersburg, 2014), “The Light of Saint Petersburg” (State Manege in Saint Petersburg, 2013), “Crosses” (Erarta Museum and Kresty Prison, 2012–2013), and solo shows “Kargopol” at the Pushkin House (2012) and “Ushli na Sever” at Slepenais Eksperiments, Riga (1997).