The struggle for the best ideas is also a social survival strategy, believes the design researcher Claudia Mareis. Her ideas are changing how we view design. | Image: Kostas Maros / 13Photo. Copyright: Horizons

7.12.2023
All is Design
Interview with Claudia Mareis in »Horizons – The Swiss Research Magazine«

MidJourney generated AI images for the prompts »architectured material across scales«, »topological interlocking«, »elastic instabilities« by Charlett Wenig | Poster Design: Node Berlin Oslo

13.12.2023–14.12.2023
Architectured Materials Across Scales
Registration is Closed

Cover of »Architectures of Weaving«: »Stone Web«. Copyright: weißensee school of art and design berlin / Natascha Unger, Idalene Rapp

6.12.2023
Multidisciplinary Anthology Architectures of Weaving
Now Open Access
Poster with bright colours and the title of the workshop »Site-Writing Technologies of Capture«

Site-Writing Technologies of Capture. Copyright: Maxime Le Calvé

13.12.2023–15.12.2023
Site-Writing with Technologies of Capture
Two-Day Workshop and Installation on Mixed Reality Crafting at Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin

Copyright: Rasa Weber

13.12.2023
Breathe. Diving with the Medusa
Rasa Weber spricht bei »Humano Biotop II« im Roten Salon

Plektonik Structural Textiles column – continuous wooden ›Active Yarns‹ 40 mm diameter loops. Copyright: Daniel Suárez & Natalija Miodragović

17.11.2023–31.1.2024
Design for Rethinking Resources
Cluster Members Beyer, Miodragović, Mossé and Suárez Publish in Proceedings of the UIA World Congress of Architects Copenhagen 2023

Open Space Event, 9 November 2023. Copyright: Matters of Activity

8.11.2023–9.11.2023
Open Space – Active Matter on Stage
MoA Opened its Doors

Microverse I-6, 2023. Copyright: Kathrin Linkersdorff

26.10.2023–21.1.2024
Microverse
Photographs Created by Kathrin Linkersdorff in Collaboration with Regine Hengge Exhibited at Deichtorhallen

Gosia Lehmann, Breathless Choir. Copyright: CollActive Materials, Foto: Michelle Mantel

20.10.2023–9.11.2023
Verbunden durch Luft
Ein Bericht zur Ausstellung »Airbound. Sensing Collective Futures«

Copyright: Waxmann Verlag

7.11.2023
Zu Gast im Automaten
Monographie von Alwin Cubasch Open Access erschienen

Syntopia 1:Soma I Body. Roland Halbe

13.11.2023
Cultures of Creation. »The Intelligence of Art« in Computational Design
Cluster Professor Karola Dierichs Holds Lecture at IntCDC on November 13

Workshop participants discussing T.J. Demos  recent book »Against the Anthropocene: Visual Culture and Environment Today« with the author. »Critical Times« at »Matters of Activity«, 17 & 18 November 2023

17.11.2023–18.11.2023
Critical Times. Part 1: Multiple Matter
Workshop with Contributions by T. J. Demos, Sandra Jasper, Kiran Pereira & David Weber-Krebs

Buntmarmore aus Goethes geologischer Sammlung, Foto: Gordon Welters

1.12.2023
Wie und warum stellt man Goethes Sammlungen aus?
Nina Samuel moderiert am 1.12. Panel im Nationalmuseum in Weimar

Copyright: Jann Mausen

17.11.2023
Radical Futurisms: Ecologies of Collapse / Chronopolitics / Justice-to-Come
Public Lecture by T. J. Demos as Part of »Critical Times. Part 1: Multiple Matter«

Samples of Flax Fiber Bundles as a precursor for Architectural Yarns, adapted by Node Berlin/Oslo. Copyright: Maxie Schneider, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, weißensee school of art and design, Matters of Activity 

8.11.2023
Threads: Localities & Temporalities of a Fiber Bio-Economy
Activating Circular Networks Goes Berlin Science Week 2023

Copyright: Photo by My Walking Diary from Pexels

2.11.2023–22.2.2024
Worlds by Design. Mapping the Field of Interdisciplinary Design Studies
Online Lecture Series Organized by Prof. Dr. Claudia Mareis

Poster with Abstract Visual Associations. Copyright: Rüdiger Wenk

7.11.2023
Cybernetic Auditive Associations
Lecture Performance Organized by »Object Space Agency« During Berlin Science Week 2023

Brainroads. Copyright: Lene Zech

2.11.2023
Brain Roads
Exploring Neuroplasticity through Art and Science
2.11.2023
Clear the Stage for Science
Science Slam of All Berlin Clusters during Berlin Science Week

Exhibition Opening »Airbound«, 19 October 2023. Copyright: Matters of Activity

19.10.2023–9.11.2023
Airbound. Sensing Collective Futures
Speculative Exhibition by the »CollActive Materials« Experimental Laboratory

Links: Detail des Himmels um die Darstellung der Asia im Deckenfresko Giovann Battista Tiepolos im Treppenhaus der Würzburger Residenz. Copyright: WikimediaCommons, Foto: Myriam Thyes, CC BY-SA 4.0; rechts: Kasimir Malewitsch, Das schwarze Quadrat, Öl auf Leinwand, 1915, Tretjakow-Galerie, Moskau. Copyright: Public Domain.

30.10.2023–12.2.2024
Licht und Dunkel
Cluster Co-Sprecher Horst Bredekamp und Olaf Müller über naturphilosophische und bildwissenschaftliche Perspektiven der Aufklärung

Participatory Forum »Art-Science-Collaborations« at ZKM

6.10.2023–7.10.2023
Babette Werner at »Art-Science-Collaborations: Establishing a Research Agenda«
Participatory Forum at ZKM Karlruhe

»Textile Gestures - Mapping Tactile Practices with Architectural Yarns«, Hand-on Workshop at Bauhaus Study Rooms. Copyright: Thomas Meyer

15.6.2023–16.6.2023
Textile Gestures - Mapping Tactile Practices with Architectural Yarns
Hand-on Workshop at Bauhaus Study Rooms

Design, Gestaltung, Formatività. Philosophies of Making. Copyright: Birkhäuser, 2022

15.9.2023
Design, Gestaltung, Formatività. Philosophies of Making
A Central Cluster Publication Edited by Patricia Ribault Released – Now Available Open Access

Syntopia 1—Soma I Body. Copyright: Karola Dierichs, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, weissensee academy of art and design and Matters of Activity

5.9.2023
Minimal Machines
Paper Published on Augmented Reality (AR) Framework

Toxic Legacies. Copyright: Leila Wallisser

5.9.2023
Toxic Legacies
Leila Wallisser Awarded With German Design Graduates' 1st Prize

Workshop with EER in Copenhagen, 2023. Copyright: Maxime Le Calvé

27.9.2023–29.9.2023
Epistemic Dizziness
Spinning-On STS Workshop on 27–29 September 2023

Case studies generated with software MidJourney

28.9.2023
Artificial Intelligence for Bio & Growing Design Applications
MidJourney Workshop with Nicholas Rapagnani on 28 September 2023
29.9.2023
Welt als Entwurf. Gestaltung im Kontext sozialer, politischer und ökologischer Probleme
Claudia Mareis spricht auf Auricher Wissenschaftstagen

Unsteady Matter – Investigating Water-Based Design Pathways and 3D Printing Techniques for Hydrogel Composites. Copyright: Tairan (Aurora) Li, Daniel Suárez, Dr. Bastian Beyer

26.5.2023–31.7.2023
Unsteady Matter
Investigating Water-Based Design Pathways and 3D Printing Techniques for Hydrogel Composites

Copyright:  »Spontaneous Generations«, https://www.spontaneousgenerations.com/

1.9.2023
On the Agency and Activities of Materials in the 21st Century
Karin Krauthausen and Michael Friedman Published Article in Special Issue of »Spontaneous Generations«

Brochures, doctoral presentations 2023. Layout: Ada Favaron. Project coordination: Franziska Wegener

27.6.2023
MATTERSCAPES. A Studio Visit
Doctoral Presentations on 27 June 2023

Bacterial cellulose curtain. Experiments: Bastian Beyer and Iva Rešetar (design), Skander Hathroubi (microbiology). Photo: Bastian Beyer, adapted by Ada Favaron. Project coordination: Elisabeth Obermeier & Franziska Wegener

1.1.2019–31.12.2022
Cluster Report Now Available
Research Phase 2019–2022

Workshop »Aerial Witness/ing«. Copyright: The Future of Life School, Clemens Winkler

25.7.2023–29.7.2023
Aerial Witness/ing
Speculative Workshop on July 25th-29th During »The Future of Life Summer School«

Conference Poster »Landwirtschaft und Literatur«, July 2023, photo »Weizenernte bei Eldagsen« by Michael Gäbler, 2013, and Anonymus: »Lesende Frau«, around 1950, from Cornelia Brink: Fotogeschichte. Beiträge zur Geschichte und Ästhetik der Fotografie, Nr. 98, 2005, p. 7; adapted by Node. Copyright: Matters of Activity

13.7.2023–15.7.2023
Landwirtschaft und Literatur
Internationale Tagung organisiert von MoA-Mitgliedern Stephan Kammer und Karin Krauthausen

Layout: Pilar Cebey. Photo: Javier Deyheralde

18.7.2023
Symbolic Dimensions of Platonic Polyhedra
Hands-on Workshop on 18 July 2023

Visual Open House weißensee school of art and design berlin 2023. Copyright: Stavros Gialamidis

22.7.2023–23.7.2023
Open House at Weißensee School of Art and Design 2023
Student Projects On View in Collaboration with »Matters of Activity«

Syntopia. Copyright: Jihae Lee, weißensee school of art and design berlin

18.7.2023
Syntopia - Harvesting the Forest
Final Review of MoA Design Research Studio

Bark by Johanna Hehemeyer-Cürten and Willow Plektonik by »Structural Textile Project« of Natalija Miodragović, Nelli Singer and Daniel Suárez. Copyright: Johanna Hehemeyer-Cürten

13.7.2023
An Exploration of Bark, Willow and Wool
Conversation on Local Biomaterials as Design Innovators between Natalija Miodragović, Dr. Michaela Eder and Johanna Hehemeyer-Cürten

Myko.Plektonik - An Exploration of Fungal Growth on Structural Textiles. Copyright: Natalija Miodragović & Dimitra Almpani-Lekka, »Plektonik« group, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«. Assisted by MA Student Andrija Mihailovic. Supported by the Department of Applied and Molecular Microbiology at TU Berlin

10.7.2023
Myko.Plektonik - An Exploration of Fungal Growth on Structural Textiles
Natalija Miodragović and Dimitra Almpani-Lekka Hold Lecture at My-Co Place

Nervous Listening Hands-On Workshop. Copyright: Matters of Activity

26.6.2023
Nervous Listening: Neuroceptive Ethnographies of Atmospheres
Workshop and Lecture with Marina Peterson

Poster Workshop »Intercultural Views on Matter«, June 2023, Image: DALL•E, Sabine Marienberg. Copyright: Matters of Activity

28.6.2023–30.6.2023
Intercultural Views on Matter
Gemeinsamer Workshop des Exzellenzclusters mit der Akademie für Europäische Kulturen der Tongji Universität Shanghai

Fungi as Building Material. Copyright: Vera Meyer, MY-CO PLACE

12.5.2023–31.7.2023
MY-CO PLACE – Architecture of Sustainable Growth
Cluster Members Natalija Miodragović and Dimitra Almpani-Lekka Give Talk on Textile Architecture Associated with Mushrooms

Visual Bauhaus Study Rooms, International Network Meeting, 15+16 June 2023. Copyright: Bauhaus Dessau

15.6.2023–16.6.2023
Design Acts: Gestures of Performative Research
MoA Members Contribute to International Network Meeting with Bauhaus Dessau

Visual Lectures Series »Navigation«, 2023. Copyright: Matters of Activity

17.4.2023–16.7.2023
Interdisziplinäre Ringvorlesung »Navigation«
Regula Burri und Maxime Le Calvé organisieren Vortragsreihe an der HafenCity Universität Hamburg

Copyright: Mina Mahouti

1.6.2023
Talking Wool – Wool in Exchange
Activating Circular Networks Event Series Will Kick Off on 1 June at Uferhallen Wedding

Driving the Human Book Launch at Matters of Activity, 10 May 2023. Copyright: Camille Blake / Driving the Human

10.5.2023
Driving the Human: Seven Prototypes for Eco-social Renewal
Book Launch with Hand-On-Workshops, Guided Tours, a Talk, and Debates at Matters of Activity

Futures of Air. Copyright: CollActive Materials

6.5.2023–20.5.2023
Futures of Air
Speculative Workshop Series in May

Poster Lecture Series »Designing in Times of the Anthropocene«, 2023. Copyright: Matters of Activity

19.4.2023–12.7.2023
Designing in Times of the Anthropocene
New Online Lecture Series Organized by MoA Co-Director Claudia Mareis Starts on 19 April

Exhibition Opening DAOULA | sheen, 17.11.2022, Tieranatomisches Theater Berlin. Copyright: Matters of Activity

18.11.2022–30.6.2023
DAOULA | sheen
West African Wild Silk on its Way

Exhibition »Materiales en Expansión«, Buenos Aires, March 2023. Structural Textile Project: Miodragović, Suarez, Singer, Object Space Agency; Complex Web Structures by Daniela Castillo. Copyright: Christian Stein

15.3.2023–9.5.2023
Stretching Materialities | Materiales en Expansión
Exhibition Opened at Universidad de Buenos Aires | Exposición Inaugurada en la Universidad de Buenos Aires

Incandescent mantle for Continental lamps -- artificial silk. BBWA U3/31 Auergesellschaft/MSA Germany, No. F/14.

Filtering Oranienburg
Research Project Explores the History of the Town as a Radioactive Industrial Landscape

Panel Discussion Materials Matter, May 4th, 2022, Humboldt Lab. Copyright: Matters of Activity

13.1.2023
Materials Matter – Perspectives on Active Materials
Audio Broadcast of the Panel Discussion at the Humboldt Lab Online Now

Teaser Coding IxD (7), Let’s Get: Physical, 2023.

16.2.2023–23.2.2023
Coding IxD (7) – Let's Get:PHYSICAL
From the Practice of Interdisciplinary Education: Making Data Tangible

Cover of »Architectures of Weaving«: »Stone Web«. Copyright: weißensee school of art and design berlin / Natascha Unger, Idalene Rapp

6.12.2023
Multidisciplinary Anthology Architectures of Weaving
Now Open Access

Annual Conference »Deep Material Futures« at silent green, November 2022. Copyright: Michelle Mantel

16.11.2022–17.11.2022
Deep Material Futures
Exploring the Different Temporalities of Active Matter at MoA's Annual Conference, 16 November 2022

Panel »Interdeterminacy and Liveliness« at MoA Annual Conference »Tipping Points« 2021. Copyright: Matters of Activity

17.10.2022–16.11.2022
»Tipping Points« Now Part of MoA Virtual Cluster Space
View Conference Contributions of MoA Annual Conference 2021 in 360° Knowledge Rooms Now!
1.9.2022
What is our Future Made Of? Active Materials and Bio-Inspired Design
Episode 18 of the DFG Podcast Series »Exzellent Erklärt« Gives Insights Into Matters of Activity

Design Workshop. Copyright: Felix Rasehorn

14.3.2022–16.3.2022
Joining Perspectives on Haptics
Online Documentation of Interdisciplinary Cluster Workshop

Multiscale architectures. Left: the wooden tower of Lake Mjøsa, Norway Reproduced with permission from [1]. Copyright: Voll Arkitekter AS & Ricardo Foto. Right: the internal structure of wood based on parallel tube-like wood cells with diameters in the range of tens of microns (shown for several wood species from top to bottom). The white arrow points to a sketch where nanometer-thick cellulose fibrils are indicated by black lines [2] John Wiley & Sons. Copyright: 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH GmbH

8.7.2022
Bioinspired Architectural and Architected Materials
Special Issue Edited by Cluster Members K. Razghandi, C. Sauer and P. Fratzl Out Now

Collection Overview - Tessellation Archive. Copyright: Felix Rasehorn

13.6.2022–31.12.2022
Launch of the Tessellation Archive
An Online Collection of Tiled Tissues and Architectures from Across the Natural World

CollActive Materials Workshop. Copyright: CollActive Materials

What are Futures Made of?
The Experimental Laboratory »CollActive Materials«

Still from Interview with Bastian Beyer and Skander Hathroubi showing the making of parts of the »Active Curtain Project« shown at the exhibition »After Nature« at Humboldt Lab. Copyright: Anne von Petersdorff (info@annevonpetersdorff.com) for Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

8.7.2021
Bacteria as Architects
Interview with Bastian Beyer and Skander Hathroubi

All 7 Berlin Clusters of Excellence are represented with a film at the foyer at Humboldt Lab. Copyright: Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

6.5.2021
Matters of Activity Film at Humboldt Lab
Cluster Video Online Now

Symbolic Material. Copyright: Myfanwy Evans, adapted by NODE Berlin Oslo

Symbolic Material

Copyright: Matters of Activity

Material Form Function

Fiber tractography delineating the white matter of the brain. Copyright: Lucius Fekonja, adapted by NODE Berlin Oslo.

Cutting

Flour Cloud. Copyright: Clemens Winkler, adapted by NODE Berlin Oslo

Object Space Agency

Cellulose in E. coli biofilm. Copyright: Diego Serra & Regine Hengge, adapted by NODE Berlin Oslo.

Weaving

Filters. Copyright: NODE Berlin Oslo

Filtering