Role
Dr Lars Koens is an artist who works with sound, moving image, and movement art to discover new aesthetics in cultural production.
At NTU, Lars is the Course Leader for the MFA in Fine Art, which encourages rigorous experiment-driven studio practice, critical research, and professional engagement in Nottingham’s dynamic arts scene.
He previously designed and led the MA in Filmmaking course, which is aimed at innovation through cinematic technology and critical thinking. The course is now led by Tony Kelly.
Furthermore, he lectures on Experimental Film for undergraduate filmmaking students and is module leader for the optional module Sound Art & Design.
Career overview
Lars has a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and worked as a postdoctoral research assistant to explore the evolution of objects over space and time. He then freelanced as a filmmaker, artist, and sound designer, enjoying recognition with awards, screenings, and exhibitions at national and international festivals. He first started teaching part-time at the Edinburgh College of Art, and at Liverpool John Moores University.
Research areas
The research underlying Lars’ teaching and art practice is centred around ecological discourse, leading to outputs in a variety of themes, such as objecthood in moving image practice, environmental documentary, and non-human agency in contemporary dance.
Publications
So Does the Bird and So Does the Fish. Koens, L., Kusanagi, J., Jini, Cohuka., 2025, Performed at Goyo Gallery, Terrada Art Complex II, Tokyo.
Rebellious Academia–The Potential of Creative Practice Research Collaborative Experimental Provocation. LULKOWSKA, A., PAYLING, D., Ottey, P., Branthwaite, M., Mansell, L., Mazza, F., Koens, L., Romero, N., Sarmiento, O. and Groppel-Wegener, A., 2025. Rethinking History.
Tiny Body. Koens, L. & Kusanagi J. ,2024, expanded cinema, exhibited at The University Art Museum in Tokyo, and presented as a talk at the Research & Innovation Conference, NTU.
Being-Together-Being and Wildlife Sound Recording in Movement Art, Koens, L. & Kusanagi, J. 2024, series of workshops delivered at Centre National de la Danse, Paris, and NTU. Paper presentation at the Midlands Conference for Critical Thought.
Asteroid, 2024, Koens, Experimental Film, screened at Alchemy Film & Arts.
Creative use of voice in non-fiction narrative film: an examination of the work of Peter Mettler. Koens, L. and Kooij, D., 2018. DOCUMENTARY FILM AND THE LISTENING EXPERIENCE, p.151-p.171
The WARPS Survey–VIII. Evolution of the galaxy cluster X-ray Luminosity Function. Koens, L. A., B. J. Maughan, L. R. Jones, H. Ebeling, D. J. Horner, E. S. Perlman, S. Phillipps, and C. A. Scharf. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 435, no. 4 (2013): 3231-3242.
Course(s) I teach on
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Undergraduate | Full-time / SandwichCOURSE
Filmmaking - BA (Hons)
https://www.ntu.ac.uk/course/art-and-design/ug/ba-hons-filmmaking
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Postgraduate taught | Full-timeCOURSE
Filmmaking - MA
https://www.ntu.ac.uk/course/art-and-design/pg/ma-filmmaking
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Postgraduate taught | Full-timeCOURSE
Fine Art - MFA
https://www.ntu.ac.uk/course/art-and-design/pg/mfa-fine-art