Dr. Nina Samuel
Dr. Nina Samuel is an Art and Science Historian and Curator with a PhD from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Her thesis »The Shape of Chaos« investigates visual epistemologies in the field of complex dynamics and fractal geometry and drawing as a mode of thinking.
She held various research positions, among others with »Technisches Bild« (HU), with »Embodied Information – ›Lifelike‹ Algorithms and Cellular ›Machines‹« (FU), and at the Bard Graduate Center in New York City. Amongst her curated exhibitions are »The Islands of Benoît Mandelbrot: Fractals, Chaos, and the Materiality of Thinking« (BGC, NYC) and »My Brain is in My Inkstand: Drawing as Thinking and Process« (Cranbrook Art Museum, MI).
Nina has received scholarships and research grants from the Fulbright Program, eikones Basel, and the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science. Before coming to the Cluster, she was Program Director of the Museum centered PhD program »PriMus – Promovieren im Museum« at Leuphana University Lüneburg.
Edited Volumes & Exhibition Catalogues
Stein, C., Blümle, C., Kim, Y., Le Calvé, M., Miodragović, N., Samuel, N., Winkler, C. eds. 2025. Stretching Materialities. Forthcoming. Hamburg: adocs.
Bürgin, M., Caviezel, F., Samuel, N. eds. 2024. Times of Waste. Forthcoming.
Leeb, S., Samuel, N. eds. 2022. Museums, Transculturality and the Nation-State. Case Studies from a Global Context. Bielefeld: transcript.
Highlighted by launch at Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart – Berlin on May 29, 2022.
Samuel, N., Sattler, F. eds. 2022. Museale Reste. Bildwelten des Wissens, 18. Berlin/München/Boston: De Gruyter.
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110733372
Articles in Edited Volumes
Samuel, N. 2024. »Passivity Matters! Transience and Conservation Practices: Examples from the Eighteenth Century to Today.« In Towards a New Culture of the Material, edited by Bauer, F., Kim, Y., Marienberg, S., Schäffner W. Berlin: De Gruyter, forthcomig.
Samuel, N. 2024. »Stretching Time | Researching Collections – Temporal Morphologies and Transformation of Matter.« In Stretching Materialities, edited by Blümle, Claudia, Miodragovic, Natalija, Samuel, Nina, Stein, Christian, Winkler, Clemens forthcoming. forthcoming.
Articles
Le Calvé, M., Miodragović, N., Samuel, N., Sattler, F., Stein, C., Winkler, C. 2023. »The virtual tour as digital fieldwork between art and anthropology. A multimodal inquiry on the transitional, transformative and leaky nature of the exhibition space at the Tieranatomisches Theater (Berlin).« Forthcoming.
Samuel, N. 2021. »Notes on the Circulation of Epistemic Images.« In Images in Circulation, special issue. Artl@s Bulletin, 10 (1): 108-125.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/artlas/vol10/iss1/9/
Samuel, N. 2021. »PriMus – Promovieren im Museum. Ein Leitfaden.« Handbook edited by Leeb, S.; Söntgen, B. 8-27.
Exhibitions
Winkler, C., Blümle, C. (project leaders, curatorial leaders), Kim, Y., Le Calvé, M., Miodragović, N., Samuel, N., Stein, C. (concept, curators), Trabandt, M.-L., Ladik, L. (project assistants). Stretching Materialities – Hidden Activities in Objects and Spaces. Exhibition. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Tieranatomisches Theater, Berlin. 16 September 2021 - 4 March 2022.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/6006/exhibition-stretching-materialities
Le Calvé, M., Miodragović, N., Samuel, N., Stein, C., Winkler, C. TA Tour – eine virtuelle Ausstellung in 360-Grad-Aufnahmen. Exhibition. Conception and implementation in collaboration with the research group Object Space Agency. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Since 1 June 2020.
http://tieranatomisches-theater.de/ta_tour/
Contributions to Exhibitions
Makki, M., Samuel, N. with Studio Above & Below »VR Geological Perfomers.« At the exhibition: Stretching Materialities – Hidden Activities in Objects and Spaces. Tieranatomisches Theater, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 18 September 2021 - 27 February 2022.
Samuel, N. (concept), Marc, C. (design and production) »Haptic Box.« At the exhibition: Stretching Materialities – Hidden Activities in Objects and Spaces. Tieranatomisches Theater, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 18 September 2021 - 27 February 2022.
https://tieranatomisches-theater.de/project/sonderausstellung-september-2021-januar-2022laborrundgang-stretching-materialities/
Talks & Presentations
Samuel, N. Die Kraft des Wassers: Wasser als einzigartiges Element der Konservierung. Talk at the Intercultural Views on Matter, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 28 June 2023.
Samuel, N. Thomas Ruffs Serie «d.o.pe.». Talk at the Werkgespräch, Schaulager, Basel. 19 October 2023.
https://schaulager.org/de/ausstellungen/programm/werkgespraeche
Samuel, N. Stretching Materialities – Die Ausstellung als Forschungsraum. Talk at the »Briefings 11: Online-Kurzvorträge über innovative Forschung«, Special Edition: Museum, Frankfurt am Main. Virtual. 26 January 2022.
Di Blasi, J., Le Calvé, M., Miodragović, N., Samuel, N., Stein, C., Winkler, C. Activity of Collections: How to deal with »Active Material« in Exhibitions and Collections? Podiumsgespräch at the Times of Waste – Handling Matter, Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst, Basel. Podiumsgespräch. Virtual. 18 June 2021.
Di Blasi, J., Le Calvé, M., Miodragović, N., Samuel, N., Stein, C., Winkler, C. Stretching: Round-table discussion. ›Activity of collections‹: How to Deal with ›Active Material‹ in Exhibitions and Collections? Invited moderation at the Symposium »Times of Waste – Handling Matter«, Methods and Practices to Re-present Transnational Material Research. Organized by FHNW Academy of Art and Design Basel in cooperation with the Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the Museum of Decorative Arts Berlin. Virtual. 18 June 2021.
http://times-of-waste.ch/de/symposium/
Le Calvé, M., Samuel, N. Museum Lab Session. Institute of European Ethnology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Virtual. 27 January 2021.
Samuel, N. Design Strategies and Practices for Sustainable Use of Materials and Resources: Design Processes, Product Responsibility, Ecological/Social-economic Production, Substitutes. Invited moderation at the Symposium »Times of Waste – Handling Matter«, Design Strategies and Practices for Sustainable Use of Materials and Resources. Organized by FHNW Academy of Art and Design Basel in cooperation with the Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and the Museum of Decorative Arts Berlin. Virtual. 17 June 2021.
http://times-of-waste.ch/de/symposium/
Samuel, N. »Image, Materiality, Agency. Visual Transformation Processes in Mathematics, Biology and the Museum«. Talk at the 16th International Congress of the German Society for Semiotics 2021 »Transformationen. Zeichen und ihre Objekte im Wandel«, Images as Agents of Cultural Transformation. Virtual. 28 September 2021.
Samuel, N. Passivity Matters! Transience and Conversation Practices. Examples from the 18th century until today. Talk at the 1st Annual Conference »The Analog in the Digital Age«, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Virtual. 11 November 2020.
https://www.virtualspace.matters-of-activity.de/annualconference/?id=7
Samuel, N. The Materiality of Thinking: Circulation of Epistemic Images. Talk at the Online International Conference »Circulation of Images«, Center of Excellence Jean Monnet IMAGO (Paris, École normale supérieure). Virtual. 15 June 2020.
https://www.imago.ens.fr/portfolio/circulation-images
Söntgen, B., Samuel, N. Promovieren im Museum – Potentiale und Herausforderungen. Talk at the Zu den Dingen! 35. Deutscher Kunsthistorikertag, Universität Göttingen. 29 March 2019.
Invited Moderation/ Comment
Samuel, N. Einführung und Moderation des Panels »Indeterminacy & Liveliness auf der Konferenz Tipping Points: Plastic, Contingent and Unstable Matters«. Jahrestagung Exzellenzcluster Matters of Activity, online. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Virtual. 16 November 2021.
Samuel, N. Introduction. 2nd Annual Conference of the Cluster »Tipping Points: Plastic, Contingent & Unstable Matter«, Indeterminacy & Lilveliness. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Hybrid. 16 November 2021.
Samuel, N. Moderation des Panels »Design Strategies and Practices for Sustainable Use of Materials and Resources: Design processes, product responsibility, ecological/social-economic production, substitutes«. Times of Waste – Handling Matter, Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst Basel. Virtual. 17 June 2021.
Events & Workshops
Douny, L., Krauthausen, K., Sattler, F. (organizers and moderators), Miodragovic, N., Samuel N., De Visscher, E., Winkler, C. (guests) Translating Material Practices. Tieranatomisches Theater Berlin. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 28 March 2023.
Marienberg, S., Schäffner, W. »Intercultural Views on Matter«. Gemeinsamer Workshop des Exzellenzclusters mit der Akademie für Europäische Kulturen der Tongji Universität Shanghai. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 28 June 2023 - 29 November 2023.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/11265/intercultural-views-on-matter
Debert, A., Dues, L., Samuel, N., Uehlken, C. About microbes, stones and orbits – thoughts on haptic knowledge, circulating narratives and transitions between the organic and the inorganic. Tieranatomisches Theater, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 3 March 2022.
Eduardo, S., Gebbers, A.-C., Leeb, S., Samuel, N., Toto, A., Walch, R. Hello Artwork, What is Your Nationality? Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum für Gegenwart - Berlin. Discussion and Book Launch »Museums, Transculturality, and the Nation-State. Case Studies from a Global Context«. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum für Gegenwart, Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum für Gegenwart - Berlin, Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum für Gegenwart - Berlin, Leuphana University, Leuphana University, Leuphana University. 29 May 2022.
Beitzen, N. S., Samuel, N. »Sammlung Ausstellen«/»Exhibiting Collections«. Architekturbüro Kuehn Malvezzi, Berlin. 11 April 2019 - 12 April 2019.
Teaching & Courses
Picht, T., Amelung, K., Chakkalakal, D., Engelhardt, M., Fekonja, L., Le Calve, M., Marienberg, S., Ostherr, K., Ribault, P., Shams, B., Stein, C., Vellmer, S., Samuel, N., Sauer, I., Acker, G., Choejki, P. Adaptive Digital Twin. Block Seminar, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. 10 July 2023 - 21 July 2023.
Picht, T., Amelung, K., Chakkalakal, D., Engelhardt, M., Fekonja, L., Le Calve, M., Ostherr, K., Ribault, P., Shams, B., Stein, C., Vellmer, S., Samuel, N., Sauer, I., Acker, G., Choejki, P. Adaptive Digital Twin. Block Seminar, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. 10 July 2023 - 21 July 2023.
Picht, T., Amelung, K., Avenati, O., Chakkalakal, D., Engelhardt, M., Fekonja, L., Le Calve, M., Ostherr, K., Rasehorn, F., Ribault, P., Shams, B., Stein, C., Vellmer, S., Samuel, N., Sauer, I., Acker, G., Choejki, P. Adaptive Digital Twin. Block Seminar, Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin. 18 July 2022 - 29 July 2022.
Picht, T., Amelung, K., Avenati, O., Chakkalakal, D., Engelhardt, M., Fekonja, L., Le Calve, M., Ostherr, K., Rasehorn, F., Ribault, P., Shams, B., Stein, C., Vellmer, S., Samuel, N., Sauer, I., Acker, G., Choejki, P. Adaptive Digital Twin. Block Seminar, Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin. 24 January 2022 - 4 February 2022.
Cooperations
Samuel, N. (co-founder) Since 2017. Das Museum als Ort der Forschung. Ongoing organization of networking events and exhibition visits for museum professionals, researchers and curators on the topic of "museum as place of research" together with Lee Chichester and Stefanie Klamm.
Memberships
Samuel, N. Since 2020. Mitarbeit im Auswahlausschuss für Nachwuchsförderung im Rahmen der Exzellenzstrategie der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Samuel, N., Schmiegelitz-Otten, J. 2019 - 2020. Scientific Advisor for the conception of the new permanent exhibition at the Residenzmuseum im Celler Schloss. Invited Member of the Scientific Board for the conception of the new permanent exhibition »Herrschaft und Landschaft, Macht und Teilhabe«.
Samuel, N. 2019 - 2022. Externe Expertin, M.A. in Visueller Kommunikation und Bildforschung. Geladenes Mitglied der Prüfungskommission der Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst, Basel, Schweiz.
Samuel, N. Since 2017. ICOM (International Council of Museums). Membership.
Samuel, N. Since 2015. Verband deutscher Kunsthistoriker.
Contributions in TV & Radio
Aeneas Rooch, with input from Nina Samuel. Benoît Mandelbrot und die Fraktale. Radio contribution, SWR2. 27 minutes, 31 March 2020.
https://www.swr.de/swr2/wissen/swr2-wissen-2020-03-31-100.html
Press Articles
Warner, A., with input from Nina Samuel. 2020. »Was für ein Chaos. Von der Berechenbarkeit des Unberechenbaren – eine Annäherung.« WAZ Tageszeitung, 25 July 2020.