interdisciplinary artist | Co-Founder of ART IN PROCESS & Dramaturge, Mentor and senior performer of Existence Theatre, AThR Registered Arts Psychotherapist (Professional Member of ANZACATA), MPhil, MCAT, GradDipCAT
visual arts/performance art/creative writing and independent research
Elisabeth was born and raised in Austria and came to Australia in 2000. From 1993 to 1999 she completed a Research Master’s degree in Philosophy (with combined studies in Art History and Theatre Studies) at the University of Vienna, followed by various positions at Austrian cultural institutions (OK) such as Centre for Contemporary Art Upper Austria, State Theatre Linz and WOCHENKLAUSUR Vienna). Elisabeth is co-founder of ART IN PROCESS with artist Bello Benischauer and they have been working together as an independent entity since 2000. Workshops, lectures, social/school projects and conference contributions.
In addition to her artistic practice, Elisabeth works as an arts psychotherapist. Her areas of interest include complex PTSD, PTSD, chronic pain, neurodivergence, identity and cultural development, and various mental disorders. For this part of her life’s journey, she completed a Clinical Master’s in Creative Arts Therapies at Murdoch University Perth. Elisabeth has worked in various art disciplines in the areas of performance and live art, theatre, movement and visual art, as well as a performer, mentor and performance trainer for ensemble members and participants of the EXISTENCE THEATRE within the framework of projects and social art collaborations. She has many years of experience working with vulnerable people in multicultural contexts and uses a variety of methods and techniques in her artistic expression.
From young age, Elisabeth felt the desire to explore the meaning and purpose of life through the healing power of art and from an existential perspective. Her holistic approach to working with other artists and her therapeutic clients is based primarily on psychoanalytic psychotherapy and existential philosophy.
Elisabeth’s artistic nature flows into her therapeutic work. She runs the private practice ART IN PROCESS THERAPY (since 2021, providing Arts Psychotherapy | Multicultural & Trauma Counselling | Mental Health Service) in Fremantle and is a clinical member of the COPE Centre in West Perth, a psychoanalytic and multidisciplinary mental health practice.
OVERVIEW
Born in Linz/Upper Austria 1974, came to Australia in 2001
Education
1993 to 1999 University studies Art History, Philosophy and Theatre
1999 research thesis publication: The idea of the Museum
1999 degree Master of Arts, University of Vienna
Artistic/Cultural Occupations in Austria between 1997 and 2002
OK Centre of Contemporary Art Linz
States Theatre Linz
Wochenklausur Vienna
2000 Co-founded ART IN PROCESS with Bello Benischauer
Curated
2008-2011 Art on the Move solo-exhibition IMPACT & FUSION by bello benischauer, touring 11 venues in WA, NSW and QLD
AIRs
2012-2017 Old Custom’s House, Artsource Fremantle/WA
2010 Artspace Sydney
2010 Labfactory Vienna
2009 subnet Salzburg
2007 VAC Albany
Selected International and National Solo-Exhibitions
2009 subnet Salzburg/A
2003 Moore’s Fremantle
2002 University Media Art Linz/A
2001 Wels, Langenlois/A
1992 first solo-exhibition Traun/A
Selected International and National Group-Exhibitions
2011 ISEA Uncontainable/Istanbul
2008 Million Puppet project/ Perth, SOHO/Vienna
2005 Women’s City, ACCEA/Yerevan
2006 Bakery/Perth
2005 Cinema Paradiso/Perth, barbes/New York, tapgallery/Sydney
2004 AMODA/Austin, National Museum of Australia/Canberra
2003 Performance Symposium/San Francisco
1995 Mensch Du Natur, Gloggnitz/A
International and National Public Live Performances & Interventions 2009 to 2011 in Australia and Austria
International Conference Presentations and Workshops
Critical Essays
2012 cross-border and beyond. the work by bello benischauer and ART IN PROCESS, monograph, AIP limited editions
2011 crossing borders and beyond, International Symposium of Electronic Arts, Conference Proceedings, Istanbul
2010 Issues go global, Interdisciplinary Projects do evolve – Personal View, Interdisciplinary.Net Oxford/UK
2011 Inter-Artistic Identities within the Socio-Political Space, Interdisciplinary.Net Oxford/UK
2009 Intervention, AIP limited editions
2008 Sustainability and Extinction, ARTECH08 Publication, University of Porto/Portugal
2007 Identical City, Virtual Residency – European Cultural Project, Publication, University Saarbrücken
Various Grants – National/International Projects