Airbound. Sensing Collective Futures

Invisible, and yet everywhere. Air is always already on its way to becoming something else. From molecule to atmosphere: the global climate crisis and thus the possible futures of our coexistence will be decided by means of air. How could a new sensorium emerge for the coming? What will connect us in the future?

The exhibition »Airbound« provides space for discussing geopolitical urgencies of the present through climate fictions and speculative everyday scenarios. They confront us with a new awareness of ecosystem fragility in terms of air critical futures. At stake is the contested knowledge of the climate, the destructive use of resources, and the injustices that are inherently linked to it.

Air as a medium stimulates speculation about possible social and ecological states of aggregation. The exhibition revolves around the materiality of air that is collective, active, and intelligent, yet precarious. »Airbound« is therefore dedicated to coexistence through and with air and its possible futures – developed in an open process by collaborators from society, science, and design. The exhibits problematize the technical promises of climate engineering and life under the pressure of ever-increasing emissions. They present designerly and research-based approaches to what air carries with it and the intimate processes of breathing. What is in the air once critical climatic tipping points have already been passed? In which ways do local approaches and other technologies offer hope? What new (breathing) practices and routines are we developing as individuals and collectives?

With contributions by
Valerian Blos
Lena Böckmann & Rodolfo Acosta Castro
Monika Dorniak
Doris Dziersk
Gosia Lehmann
Clemens Winkler

Duration: 20 October – 9 November 2023,

• Vernissage: 19 October, CLB Berlin im Aufbau Haus, from 6.00 pm (No prior registration needed!)
• Public Tour at CLB Berlin (in German), 20 October, 6.00 -7.00 pm
• Speculative Workshop »Introducing: The Second Dust Bowl« (in German), CLB Berlin, 21 October, 1.00-3.00 pm
• Speculative Workshop »Introducing: The Breathless Choir« (in English), Museum für Naturkunde/ Berlin Science Week, 4 November, 11.30 am -1:00 pm
• Finissage, 9 November, »Bound Through Air« with participatory performance »AIRNSHARE #2« with Doris Dziersk, from 6.00 pm

Exhibition concept and design: Mina Mahouti
Scientific curators: Léa Perraudin and Martin Müller
Workshop concept: Kristin Werner und Antje Nestler
Project management: Kristin Werner

About CollActive Materials

CollActive Materials is an experimental laboratory of the Berlin Clusters of Excellence »Matters of Activity« (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) and »Science of Intelligence« (Technische Universität Berlin), funded by the Berlin University Alliance. The aim of the project is to develop Speculative Design as a new approach for knowledge exchange between research, society, and design, thus making joint encounters possible at eye level. As an experimental, transdisciplinary project, CollActive Materials brings material everyday practices from diverse social contexts into open conversation with approaches in research.

https://www.collactive-materials.de/
IG: @collactivematerials

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