Hannah Scharmer

Looking back, what did you most enjoy about your time at Bard College Berlin?
I loved the community. The more time passes, the more I realize how special the BCB community is. A picture that comes to mind is of lunch time, where (no matter how cold it was) we would sit outside the dining hall. No matter who was sitting out there, or how well you knew someone or not, you were always welcome to sit with anyone, and often left with an aching abdomen from laughing so hard.

How would you describe, in a nutshell, the experience of studying at BCB?
Igniting a fire that was already inside me, I was given the space and the interlocutors to help it grow and brighten.

Write briefly about one of your courses that left a lasting impression on you.
Thinking back to my first semester, I remember how I, somewhat naively, stumbled into Jan Völker's Hegel seminar, which deeply affected my course of study. The atmosphere of Jan's seminars (which I continued to attend almost every semester) fed into my desire to pursue philosophy. Our shared inquiry was like a 'creature' situated in the center of our seminar circle, a ‘creature’ which we could all see, and one which we attempted to understand and nourish and sustain through our contributions. Whenever I left Jan's class on Wednesday evening, it would already be nearing 9 pm; the sun had set, and the world looked different from how it was before the beginning of class. I, too, often felt changed stepping out of that classroom. For this I am deeply grateful, as it was during these Wednesday evenings when I realized not only the capacity that our faculty of thought has when one enters an intensive study of a text, but also how the insights that one achieves independently come alive by stepping into dialogue with others.

The advanced painting classes with John Kleckner also left a lasting impression on me, and when I meet up with other artist friends who took these classes with John we often reminisce about what a brilliant and compassionate mentor he is, and how the structure of that class (both as an open space to develop your unique practice in tandem with very personal, one-on-one mentorship from John) inspired and transformed our painting practices.

How has BCB influenced the path you've taken since completing the program? 
It sparked my love for philosophy and painting, which has shaped the path I am currently on. My deep friendships with many of the students and professors has had an equally lasting impact on me, and I could not be more grateful for that.

Where are you now and what are you doing?
I am pursuing a PhD in Philosophy at the New School for Social Research.

Any advice you would give to students considering BCB?
There is no place quite like BCB, and my advice would be to show up as fully as you can, and soak to it all in. The time will pass quickly, and once it's over you will increasingly realize how special BCB is.