Large and complex amounts of data are filtered for relevant information just as water is purified by filters and thus becomes drinking water. Filters select, extract and modify – how they do this, however, is often difficult to understand or even remains invisible.
The project »Filtering« investigates filters using historical, experimental and computational approaches. What information, for example, can be enhanced by new filter techniques? How can processes such as the storage, communication and processing of data and images or analoge spaces and materials be altered by filtering? Does this produce patterns? In their investigations, the researchers focus on essential physical mechanisms up to macroscopic proceedings. In times of digital culture, the project wants to research analog filters anew and thus re-establish the analog in the digital age.
During the short project Exploring Filtering interaction designer Thomas Ness and textile designer Veronika Aumann created several playful experiments around filtering processes. The goal of this exploration of filtering was to gauge and express them in a practical and tangible way, respectively. They focused on the filter itself – as an object and active matter. In the »Design Lab«, different kinds and methods of filtering processes were tested hands-on with familiar prototyping materials and techniques and transformed into six narratively and visually impressive representations.


















- Exploring Filtering Event 10.8.2020–14.8.2020
- Cultural Heritage - Documentation, Conservation & Information Event 24.1.2020
- Mini Retreat »Filtering« Event 16.1.2020–18.1.2020
- Membranes as Molecular Machines Event 10.1.2020
Busch, C., Kassung, C., Sieck, J. ed. 2019. Kultur und Informatik - Virtual History and Augmented Present. Glückstadt: VWH.
Faghani, A., Gholami, M. F., Trunk, M., Müller, J., Pachfule, P., Vogl, S., Donskyi, I., Li, M., Nickl, P., Shao, J., Huang, M. R. S., Unger, W. E. S., Arenal, R., Koch, C. T., Paulus, B., Rabe, J. P., Thomas, A., Haag, R., Adeli, M. 2020. »Metal-Assisted and Solvent-Mediated Synthesis of Two-Dimensional Triazine Structures on Gram Scale.« Journal of the American Chemical Society, 142, (30): 12976-12986. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.0c02399
Cubasch, A. Of Bacon Squares and Spoon-Bowl-Packs – Or How to Dine in Zero-g. Talk at Brown Bag Brunch, Cluster »Matters of Activity«. 1 December 2020.
Fratzl, P. Natural Active Materials. Talk at Annual Conference of the Cluster »Matters of Activity« 2020, 11 November 2020. https://www.virtualspace.matters-of-activity.de/annualconference/?id=1
Fratzl, P. Natural Active Materials. Talk at the Annual Conference of the Cluster »Matters of Activity« 2020, 11 November 2020. http://www.virtualspace.matters-of-activity.de/annualconference/?id=0
Le Calvé, M., Cubasch, A. J., Heitger, A. Space Food: Dreams of Eternal Shelf Life in Artificial Environments. Talk at Workhsop: Shelf Life. Ferment Activity and Nurturing Materials, ExC MOA. 10 December 2020. https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/2915/shelf-life-ferment-activity-and-nurturing-materials
Rabe, J. Matters of Free Energy and a Tesseract . Talk at the Annual Conference of the Cluster »Matters of Activity« 2020, 11 November 2020. https://www.virtualspace.matters-of-activity.de/annualconference/?id=9
Cubasch, A. J., Perraudin, L., Cojal Gonzalez, J., Razghandi, K. How to environ? Epistemic & design perspectives on environments, cultural techniques, and structures. Internal Cluster Event (Brown Bag/Cluster Day/…). Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 13 November 2020.
Le Calvé, M., Cubasch, A. J., Heitger, A. Shelf Life. Ferment-Activity and Nurturing Materials. Workshop. ExC MOA. 10 December 2020. https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/2915/shelf-life-ferment-activity-and-nurturing-materials
Fratzl, P., Schäffner, W. et al. Behavioral Matter: Composer avec le vivant. Workshop. Centre Pompidou, Paris. In cooperation with Ensadlab (École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, Paris) and the Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«. 23 March 2019. https://fonds-perspektive.de/fr/behavioralmatter/