Editorial Dear Friends of »Matters of Activity«,

With the very well-attended opening of the exhibition »Airbound« at CLB Berlin last Thursday, we started into an eventful fall. Seize the opportunity to experience the results of the intensive work of the Experimental Lab »CollActive Materials« until November 9th!

And there is more, of course: This Thursday, the exhibition of the photographer Kathrin Linkersdorff will open at the Deichtorhallen in Hamburg. The series »Microverse«, shown for the first time, was created in collaboration with Regine Hengge. Furthermore, we are looking forward to our manifold contributions to the Berlin Science Week - starting with the »Brain Roads« workshop on November 2nd, organized by Patricia Ribault and Olaf Avenati, to the Science Slam of the Berlin Clusters of Excellence, where Emma Sicher will slam for MoA, to the Lecture Performance with Rüdiger Wenk, organized by Claudia Blümle and Christian Stein. On November 8th, the »Threads« workshop, organized by Lucy Norris, Hanna Wiesener, and Khashayar Razghandi, will kick off the MoA Open Space Days. In this context, we cordially invite you to join us for the opening of the »Activarium« on the evening of the 8th! On November 9th, we continue with hands-on workshops, live demonstrations, and impulses from our members at Sophienstraße 22a. We look forward to talking with you about long-standing and brand-new projects!

Enjoy reading this prosperous issue and hopefully see you soon at one of the many opportunities!
Antje Nestler, Carolin Ott & Franziska Wegener

Material Form Function | Collactive Materials | Air | Science Communication 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? »Airbound« runs until November 9th and provides space for discussing geopolitical urgencies of the present through climate fictions and speculative everyday scenarios. As part of Berlin Science Week »CollActive Materials« also organizes the workshop »Introducing: The Breathless Choir« November 4th at Naturkundemuseum. → more

Material Form Function | Air | Science Communication | Climate | Cloud | Collactive Materials Clustermitglied und CollActive Materials Co-Projektleiter Martin Müller wurde nach der Eröffnung von »Airbound« am 19. Oktober 2023 im CLB im Aufbauhaus zur Ausstellung interviewt. »Die Luft spielt eine existenzielle Rolle in der globalen Klimakrise. Die Ausstellung soll die Aufmerksamkeit darauf lenken, dass mögliche Zukünfte sich auch an der Luft entscheiden, an unserem Verständnis davon, was es bedeutet zu atmen, mit der Luft zu leben. Wir sind ›airbound‹ – luftverbunden.«. Mehr zur Ausstellung und das ganze Interview gibt es im Tagesspiegel vom 22. Oktober 2023. → more

Filtering Über zwanzig Jahre lang war Berlin der Standort der internationalen Tagung »Kultur und Informatik«. Teilnehmer*innen aus der ganzen Welt kamen ins Schloßmuseum Köpenick, ins Bode-Museum, ins Pergamon-Museum oder ins Konzerthaus Berlin, um dort gemeinsam über den Einsatz aktueller Computertechnologien im Bereich der Kulturvermittlung, des cultural heritage, der Mensch-Computer-Interaktion oder von Big-Data Technologien immer auch aus der konkreten Anwendungsperspektive heraus nachzudenken. Im September dieses Jahres wurde die Tagung erstmals in Portugal an der Faculdade de Belas-Artes da Universidade de Lisboa durchgeführt und wird von nun an jährlich abwechselnd in Berlin und bei einem internationalen Partner stattfinden. Cluster-Mitglieder Johann Habakuk Israel, Christian Kassung & Jürgen Sieck berichten über die geglückte Premiere und die Ergebnisse der diesjährigen Tagung, die unter der Überschrift »Code and Materiality« stand. → more

Symbolic Material | Material Form Function | Publications | Bacteria | Temporality Die synthetische Biologie versucht sich gegenwärtig am Re-Design ganzer Gattungen, arbeitet an der ›resurrectio‹ längst ausgestorbener Arten zur Stabilisierung kollabierender Ökosysteme und greift mittels der Genomeditierungstechnologie CRISPR gezielt in die menschliche Keimbahn ein.
Für eine Kritik dieser prometheischen Biologie verbindet Martin Müller Ansätze aus Medien- und Kulturwissenschaft mit Designtheorie, Wissenschaftsphilosophie und Wissensgeschichte. Seine ›Genealogie der Zoëpolitik‹ ist gleichsam eine neue Macht- und Lebenstheorie. Sie beschreibt einen ›Willen zum Lebenmachen‹, der um 1800 entstand. Dieser intensivierte sich und eskalierte im 20. Jahrhundert in der ›molekularen Revolution‹ und heute im Auftauchen der synthetischen Biologie, welche die planetarische Natur und das biologische Leben in Gänze als ein Interventionsfeld ingenieurtechnischer Kalküle begreift.  → more

Cutting | Brain | Publications In this prognostic study of 112 patients and 70 patients with glioblastoma, published in JAMA Neurology, a newly developed white matter tract density index (TDI) was significantly associated with the overall survival of patients with glioblastoma. The TDI had a stronger correlation and survival prediction than other commonly used prognostic factors. The TDI appears to be a reliable predictor of patient outcomes; given these findings, this index may be considered in future clinical trials and potentially incorporated into clinical practice. → more

Symbolic Material Sigmund Freuds Untersuchung des Moses von Michelangelo sowie seine Sammlung antiker Kleinskulpturen bieten, gemeinsam betrachtet, Elemente einer visuellen Psychoanalyse, die dem ikonoklastischen Grundzug dieser Wissenschaft widerspricht. Freud bezog seine Statuetten in die Behandlungspraxis ein und ließ sich auch selbst von ihnen inspirieren. Seine Sammlung, das zeigt die neue Publikation von Cluster Co-Sprecher Horst Bredekamp, ist ein Schlüssel für seine Wissenschaft des Unbewussten. Um ihre Wirkung zu nutzen, musste Freud diese Form der Behandlungspraxis verbergen, sie »verhüllen«. Nur wenn man diese Motive berücksichtigt, ist zu erschließen, wie stark die Psychoanalyse als ein Ort der Befreiung von kulturellen Zwängen gedeutet werden kann. → more

Symbolic Material | Teaching In der Ideengeschichte der Metaphysik, Kunst, Naturphilosophie und Naturwissenschaft treten immer wieder ganze Netze dualer Gegensätzlichkeiten wie die zwischen Licht und Schatten, Geist und Materie, Wärme und Kälte, Plus und Minus, Gott und Schöpfung, Ausdehnung und Zusammenziehung, Vernunft und Gefühl, Denken und Wahrnehmung auf. Die im Wintersemester 2023/2024 von Cluster Co-Sprecher Horst Bredekamp und Olaf Müller angebotene Vorlesung wird in ihrem Versuch, eingeschliffenen Dualismen zu entgegnen, zentrale Anliegen von »Matters of Activity« thematisieren. Im Wechselspiel der Fächer Kunstgeschichte und Philosophie, also auch mit Blick auf die Polarität von Text und Bild, werden historische Varianten dieser Ideen zur Diskussion gestellt und mit dem aktuellen Stand derartiger Überlegungen verknüpft. Start ist Montag, der 30. Oktober 2023 um 18 Uhr, die Vorlesung ist offen für Hörerende aller Fakultäten sowie für die interessierte Öffentlichkeit. → more

Weaving | Bacteria | Biofilm Circularity and sustainability of material flows is a hallmark of intact ecosystems. This principle has now been stunningly visualized in ultrahigh resolution, large format photographs – the MICROVERSE series – created by Kathrin Linkersdorff in collaboration with Cluster member Regine Hengge, Professor for Microbiology at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. The exhibition at the Deichtorhallen Hamburg will be on view from October 27th, 2023 to January 21st, 2024. → more

Cutting | Brain | Science Communication Like the sculptor with marble, neurosurgeons dialogue with the brain they operate on. Mapping and representing these ›brain roads‹ can be achieved through various imaging methods, which help neurosurgeons extend their knowledge of the cerebral anatomy. The French Professor in neuro-oncology Hugues Duffau is famous for operating on low-grade gliomas by performing awake surgery with very little technology. His methodology includes a complex mix of techniques, disciplines and experiments based on the concept of neuroplasticity and a limited use of medical imaging in the operating room. The workshop, organized by Patricia Ribault, will explore these »Brain Roads« during Berlin Science Week on November 2nd from 10.00 am– 5.00 pm. → more

Cutting | Brain Accompanying the »Brain Roads« Workshop during Berlin Science Week, Hugues Duffau shared and discussed his groundbreaking insights into the mapping of different brain functions and his revolutionary work in awake brain surgery, which has not only changed surgical practice but also increased our understanding of the intricate processes of the human brain. → more

Science Communication Slammin’ like there’s no tomorrow - at our Cluster Science Slam, researchers try everything to entertain their audience, regardless of whether the subject is e.g. mathematics, neuroscience or active material. The sky is the limit when it comes to what’s possible. Costumes, props, movies, PowerPoint presentations or other experimental setups – it is all allowed. Only time sets the limits – every slammer will have ten minutes at most. And the audience will decide which presentation is best! → more

Material Form Function | Sand What kind of knowledge about environments do models create? And how can artistic media be deployed in making sense of these knowledge practices? In this panel at this year's Berlin Science Week Campus at Museum für Naturkunde Berlin on November 3rd, Associated Investigator in the »Material Form Function« research group Michaela Büsse will be in conversation with anthropologist Andrew Gilbert (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) and human geographer Rossella Alba (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) about the role of technologies for environmental governance and film as a means of research. Based on Michaela's short film »Building with Nature« the audience is invited to engage with the engineering principles behind Zandmotor, an artificial peninsular close to The Hague in the Netherlands. The panel will be moderated by Stefan Schäfer, research group leader at the Institute for Sustainability Helmholtz Centre Potsdam where Michaela currently is a fellow. → more

Object Space Agency | Science Communication | Sound | Performance In this lecture performance, Rüdiger Wenk presents his auditive associations of images in the plural based on his cybernetic algorithm as part of analog sound synthesis. Rüdiger Wenk first explains the basics of his cybernetic algorithm consisting of envelope follower (signal input), modal synthesis (body), and asynchronous granular synthesis (space) in the context of feedback within this current lecture performance. The visual works, which will be shown in the course of the Berlin Science Week 2023 by the Institute of Art History of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in cooperation with »Object Space Agency« on November 7th, can be seen from 6:00 pm in the Medientheater. The lecture performance starts at 7:00 pm. → more

Weaving | Material Form Function | Filtering | Science Communication | Yarns/Fibers | Circular Economies How can we deal with the complexities of transitioning to a bio-economy in which natural fiber could play a major role? The second event in the »Activating Circular Network« series unfolded on November 8th, 2023 as a pivotal part of MoA Berlin Science Week. The aim of the organizers Lucy Norris, Khashayar Razghandi, and Hanna Wiesener was to bring together diverse actors — researchers, designers, entrepreneurs, activists and artists — to explore the complexities of transitioning to a bio-economy of natural fibres. → more

Weaving | Filtering | Material Form Function | Cutting | Object Space Agency | Symbolic Material | Science Communication We are surrounded by matter that is vibrant and active. Yet we often treat matter as if it were passive. Instead of using active material properties and structures, industrial and digital manufacturing, as well as conventional approaches to engineering, design, and architecture, still heavily rely on the passivation of materials, and external energy is added. On November 8th and 9th, Matters of Activity opened its doors to the general public for the first time as part of Berlin Science Week. More than 140 guests on both days were given an insight into the Cluster of Excellence's research. → more

Material Form Function | Temporality Time has become an increasingly critical factor and concept in the wake of Anthropocene debates. With the workshop »Critical Times. Part I: Multiple Matter«, which took place at »Matters of Activity« on November 17 and 18, the organizers asked, what times and temporalities shape the pressing crises of the present but also what temporalities allow for a critical response to a homogenizing crisis of such a present. The focus of the workshop resided in the conjunctions between speculative practices and narratives, other-than-scientific modes of sense-making as well as enchanting, violent, or haunting counter-/temporalities unfolding through eco-artistic practices. Around twenty-five multidisciplinary workshop participants engaged in discussions together with our invited guests — T.J. Demos, Sandra Jasper, Kiran Pereira and David Weber-Krebs.  → more

Material Form Function | Temporality | More-Than-Human How might we rescue the future from the grips of planetary negativity, capitalist longtermism, and generalized catastrophism? It will take nothing less than cultivating an emancipated chronopolitics emerging from the traditions of the oppressed in relation to an undetermined not-yet. T. J. Demos presentation addresses recent creative modelings of radical Indigenous and Afrofuturist worlds-to-come and their radical temporal reconfigurations, founded upon social justice and environmental flourishing. → more