Rahel Kesselring
Rahel Kesselring is a cultural researcher whose work engages with processual artistic practices and plant agency. She is currently the botanical curator at the Fondation Beyeler in Basel (CH) and a PhD candidate at the Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity« as well as at the Department of Cultural History and Theory at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Her research focuses on practices of regeneration and rewilding within plant ecosystems in contemporary art, situated at the intersection of cultural theory, plant studies, and queer theory. She has a background in performance studies and scenography, and most recently worked as a research associate at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Zurich University of the Arts. As an artist and scenographer, she has collaborated on projects in performance and site-specific art across Europe, including steirischer herbst, MaerzMusik Berlin, Wien Modern, Festival far° Nyon, and Ashkal Alwan Beirut.
Cluster of Excellence
»Matters of Activity«
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Sophienstr. 22a
10178 Berlin
Articles in Edited Volumes
Dimitra Almpani-Lekka, Pelin Asa, Johanna Hehemeyer-Cürten, Rahel Kesselring, Claudia Kudinova, Kaja Ninnis, Anna Schäffner, Emma Sicher, Maxie Schneider, Rasa Weber. 2026. »Testing Un/Common Grounds.« In Matters of Activity. Rethinking Materiality, Rethinking Knowledge, edited by Claudia Mareis, Carolin Ott, Babette Werner. Birkhäuser, forthcoming.
Articles
Asa, P., Dobler, J., Fratzl, P., Farmer, J., Huber, J., Jouy, F., Kang, N., Kesselring, R., Kubelík, A., Krauthausen, K., Mai, I., Noda, S., Neuhäuser, S., Rhein, J., Stock, R., Wolff, K., Dierichs, K. 2025. »Symbiotic Wood.« .able journal, (27)
https://doi.org/10.69564/able.en.25027.symbioticwood
Kesselring, R. 2025. »›I Like to Think of a Cybernetic Forest Filled With Pines and Electronics‹: Mergings of Plant and Technology in Contemporary Art.« In As the World Burns: On Media and Climate, special issue. Media-N, Journal of the New Media Caucus, 21 (1): 64-86.
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.21900/j.median.v21i1.1808
Kesselring, R. 2024. »Ecosystems as Cyborgs.« In As the World Burns: On Media and Climate, special issue. Media-N. forthcoming.
Kesselring, R. 2024. »Undoing ecologies? Praktiken queerer Reparatur in den zeitgenössischen Künsten.« In Queer Ecologies and the Arts, special issue. kritische berichte. Zeitschrift für Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften, 52 (3): 72-81.
https://doi.org/10.11588/kb.2024.3.105432
Kesselring, R. 2010. »Szenografie — Gedanken zur Eingrenzung und Aufweitung eines Begriffs.« In Szenografie, special issue. archithese, (4): 42-43.
https://archithese.ch/produktedetails/szenografie.html
Exhibitions
Diereichs, K. (curator and contributor), Stiegel, A., Banz, C. (co-curators). Symbiotic Wood. Group Show. Exhibition, Symposium, Roundtable and Tour. Exhibition. The final project of the »More than Human« exhibition series of Kunstgewerbemuseum developed in collaboration with the Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity« as part of the ＿matter Festival 2025. With contributions by Pelin Asa, Karola Dierichs, Judith M. Dobler, Tarik Goetzke, Başak Günak, Florent Jouy, Nuri Kang, Rahel Kesselring, Karin Krauthausen, Anna Kubelík, Julia Rhein, Siegfried Saerberg, Robert Stock. Kunstgewerbemuseum. 28 June 2025 - 23 November 2025.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/16077/symbiotic-wood;
Highlighted by ARCH+, Tagesspiegel.
Kesselring, Rahel, Stock, Robert. Vegetal Companions: Arts, Sciences and Temporalities of Co-Existence. Exhibition. Späth-Aboretum. Exhibition. Späth Arboretum. 13 May 2025 - 28 June 2025.
Stock, R., Kesselring, R. Vegetal Companions: Arts, Sciences and Temporalities of Co-Existence. Exhibition. Späth-Aboretum. 13 May 2025 - 28 June 2025.
Werner, B., Alt, Y., Bortt, L., Herdlicka, J. (co-founders, curators), Kesselring, R., Schneider, M. (contributors). Dragoner.03—Super Contemporary Arts Fest. Exhibition. Dragonerareal, Berlin-Kreuzberg. 25 July 2025 - 30 July 2025.
https://dragoner0x.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYKFjY4krjx04pdJ4MRuQUNFXo5dr_nAmXiyQWUP8rvgXSettDVTFgboss_aem_pE3OrXA2i4axcrwG78RnzA
Contributions to Exhibitions
Günak, B., Kesselring, R. »How to Hold Things: Artistic Practices in Damaged Environments.« At the exhibition: Symbiotic Wood. Berlin. 27 June 2025 - 21 September 2025.
Kesselring, R., Avnat, M. »Planted Archives: Spuren der Umweltgeschichte im Botanischen Garten des Späth-Arboretum.« At the exhibition: Vegetal Companions: Arts, Sciences and Temporalities of Co-Existence. Späth-Arboretum. 13 May 2025 - 28 June 2025.
Kesselring, R., Steinmair, H. »It takes place when it doesn‘t.« At the exhibition: Was in der Luft liegt. Alte Fabrik, Rapperswil. 25 May 2018 - 26 June 2018.
Kesselring, R. »Escaping Immortality.« At the exhibition: A Museum of Immortality. Ashkal Alwan, Beirut. 11 June 2014 - 18 June 2014.
https://ashkalalwan.org/program.php?category=4&id=205
Public Engagement
Berkes, C., Bieri, L., Kesselring, R., Reissner, L., Sander L., Schaub, T., Bonny Orbit, Whitcher, L. 2024. Unfinished – eine Heimsuchung. Dramaturgy for video walk. Theaterhaus Gessnerallee, Zurich. 3 May 2024 - 23 June 2024.
Antonijevic, T., Creutzburg, C., Hertel, S., Kesselring, R., Reiber Otálora, D., Salinas, C., Stoyanov, T. 2021. Die Leiche loswerden. Virtual scenography for video walk. PAF Performing Arts Festival, Berlin. 10 September 2021 - 18 September 2021
Berkes, C., Kesselring, R., Müller, C., Sander, L., Schaub, T. / Bonny Orbit, Whitcher, L. 2021. RECCE 8952. Dramaturgy for video walk. Theaterhaus Gessnerallee, Zurich. 15 May 2021 - 6 June 2021.
Bien, M., Bussmann, J., Kesselring, R., Rivera, E., Rauch, T., Thielmann, F., Vera I. 2021. The Great Swamp. Concept, scenography and dramaturgy for site-specific installation and event series. Theater Studio Naxos, Frankfurt a. M. 15 July 2021 - 8 August 2021.
Borowski, H., Brands, M., Bussmann, J., Creutzburg, C., De Carlo, F., Jaud, R., Hertel, S., Kesselring, R., Reiner, C., Shaw, D., Steinmair, H. 2018. What on Earth. Lighting design for theater performance. Frankfurt LAB / Theaterhaus Mousonturm, Frankfurt a. M. 28 May 2018 - 30 May 2018.
Talks & Presentations
Avnat, M. (Lecturer), Kesselring, R., Stock, R. (Organizers). Verwilderte Lianen, pflanzliche Arbeit und Gehölze, die sich anlehnen. Audiowalk. Panel Presentation at the Arboreales Wissen: Praktiken, Materialität, Zeitlichkeit, Späth- Arboretum, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin. Vegetal Companions: Arts, Sciences and Temporalities of Co-Existence, part of the ＿matter Festival 2025. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 6 June 2025.
Kesselring, R. Artistic Practices in Uninhabitable Landscapes. Panel Presentation at the STS Hub 2025 Diffracting the Critical, Diffracting Ways of Living: Practices and Politics of Habitability in More-Than-Human Worlds. Berlin. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 12 March 2025.
Kesselring, R. Landscapes Becoming: Regeneration, Control, and the Temporalities of Land Art. Lecture at the Brown Bag Brunch. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 6 May 2025.
Kesselring, R. ›If we do not seek to fix what has been broken, then what?‹: On the Possibility of Care in the Arts, if Repair is Impossible. Panel Presentation at the CERC 3rd International Care Ethics Research Consortium, Care Beyond Repair. Amersfoort. 24 January 2025.
Kesselring, Rahel, Stock, Robert. Der Baum am Ende der Welt: Anmerkungen zu künstlerisch-arborealen Politiken. Panel Presentation at the Tagung der IVG (Internationale Vereinigung für Germanistik), Bäume in der Krise – interdisziplinäre und intermediale Perspektiven. Graz. 22 July 2025.
Kesselring, R., ›Scars Remind Us That Our History is Real‹: A Queer Ecologies' Attempt on Repair. Panel Presentation at the Ruin and Reparation: (Dis)Repair in Art and Architectural History, (Re)appropriating Space. History of Art and Architecture Department, University of Pittsburgh. Virtual. 22 March 2024.
Kesselring, R. The Forest as a Cyborg. Panel Presentation at the STS-CH 2023 Conference, Collaborating with Matter: Explorations of New Feminist Materialism in Multiple Lifeworlds. University of Basel. 1 September 2023.
Kesselring, R. What About. Talk at the Institute for Interior Design and Scenography, Basel. FHNW Academy of Art and Design Basel. 2 April 2019.
Kesselring, R. Déjà Vu: On the Speculative Presence of Reenactments. Talk at the Theôría Conference, Institut für Angewandte Theaterwissenschaft, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen. 2 July 2015.
Invited Moderation/ Comment
Kesselring, R. Non-Human-Material Before the Object: A Response. Before the Object: Material Histories, Infrastructures and Ecologies, Braunschweig. 21 October 2024.
Sicher, E., Weber, R., Kesselring, R., Asa, P. MATTERSCAPES. A Studio Visit. Doctoral Presentations, repair, restore, regenerate, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Moderation by Perraudin, Léa. 27 June 2023.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/11320/matterscapes-a-studio-visit
Events & Workshops
Kesselring, R., Stock, R. Arboreales Wissen: Praktiken, Materialität, Zeitlichkeit. Späth Arboretum, Berlin. 6 June 2025.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/16062/vegetal-companions-arts-sciences-and-temporalities-of-co-existence
Brunner, C., Kesselring, R., Stock, R. Critical Times. Part II: Ecologies of Relation. Erasmus School of Philosophy, Erasmus University Rotterdam. 11 April 2024 - 13 April 2024.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/13303/critical-times-part-ii-ecologies-of-relation
Christoph Brunner, Rahel Kesselring, Robert Stock. With Contributions by: Lara Almarcegui, Clara Balaguer, Martino Morandi, Vishnu Vardhani Rajan, Katherine G. Sammler, Femke Snelting Critical Times II: Ecologies of Relation II. Buitenplaats Brienenoord and RASL Rotterdam Arts and Science LAB, Rotterdam NL. 11 April 2024 - 13 April 2024.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/13303/critical-times-part-ii-ecologies-of-relation
Brunner, Christoph, Kesselring, Rahel, Mareis, Claudia, Stock, Robert Critical Times I. Multiple Matter. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Hybrid. 17 November 2023 - 18 November 2023.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/11626/critical-times-part-1-multiple-matter
Kesselring, R., Premer, C., Triller, R. DISKURS'14 – on young performing arts. Institut für Angewandte Theaterwissenschaft, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen. 12 October 2014 - 14 December 2014.
Teaching & Courses
Stock, R., Kesselring, R. Bäume Erzählen. Naturgeschichten und Zeitlichkeit. Seminar, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 15 April 2025 - 15 July 2025.
Kesselring, R., Stock, R. Thinking Through Trees: Reading Group on the Cultural History and Theory of Plants and Vegetal Entanglements. Berlin. 1 February 2023 - 31 October 2025.
Burger, S., Chetwynd, M., Kesselring, R. Axolots, Frankenstein and Other Beloved Monsters: A Seminar on the History and Potential of Monstrous Beings. Block Seminar, BA Fine Arts/BA Theater, Zurich University of the Arts. 5 September 2022 - 16 September 2022.
Fistarol, N., Kesselring, R. Strapped Tensions: Spatial Interactions in Urban Environments. Practical course, MA Theater, Zurich University of the Arts. 9 May 2022 - 13 May 2022.
Kesselring, R., Sobottka, S. Positionen performativer Raumkunst. Lecture series, BA Stage Design, Zurich University of the Arts. 21 February 2022 - 9 May 2022.
Kesselring, R., Sander, L., Wicke, J. Swamp: Aesthetic ecologies on moving ground. Teaching Research Project, MA Theater, Zurich University of the Arts. 1 March 2021 - 4 June 2021.
Dreifuss, R., Kesselring, R., Lampert, F., Purtschert, P., Weber, B. Master Cluster Lab. Practical course, Department of Performing Arts and Film, Zurich University of the Arts. 24 February 2020 - 6 March 2020.
https://intern.zhdk.ch/?vorlesungsverzeichnis&semester_id=151060&cc_page_id=-2122&course_id=215602
Kesselring, R. Der Moment nach der Katastrophe: Über die Darstellbarkeit katastrophischer Ereignisse in Positionen der Kunst. Lecture, MA Theater, Zurich University of the Arts. 17 February 2020.
Kesselring, R. Talking Spaces: Raum-, Atmosphären- und Aufführungsanalyse. Seminar, BA Stage Design, Zurich University of the Arts. 29 September 2019 - 3 December 2019.
External Grants, Fellowships, Scholarships & Residencies
Achour, A., Champlin, A., Fatehi, S., Kesselring, R., Quast, H., Rothfuchs, T. 2021. Program for Emerging Artistic Researchers PEERS. Institute for the Performing Arts and Film, Zurich Academy of the Arts Scholarship.
Kesselring, R. 2014. Home Workspace Program HWP. Ashkal Alwan, Lebanese Association for Plastic Arts, Beirut. Residency.
Press Articles
Bartels, G. (text), Reichel, M., dpa (image). 2025. »Ehrenrettung für den Borkenkäfer im Kunstgewerbemuseum: Zwischen Baum und Borke.« About the Exhibition »Symbiotic Wood«, part of the ＿matter Festival 2025. Tagesspiegel, 27 June 2025.