AIRBOUND

AIRBOUND: Sensing Collective Futures
Exhibition, CLB Berlin Aufbau Haus, October–November 2023

From the molecule to the atmosphere, the global climate crisis and thus the possible futures of our coexistence will be decided by means of air. We are »airbound« – connected through air. But how can we sense what is to come? And what will connect us in the future?

The exhibition features climate fictions and speculative everyday scenarios – developed in an open process by collaborators from the realms of civil society, science, and design. Through speculative installations, »AIRBOUND« creates a space to discuss urgent geopolitical issues: At stake is contested knowledge about the climate, the destructive use of resources, and the ecological and social injustices that are inherently linked to this. Air becomes a critical question – as a collective, active, and intelligent material.
Several scenarios were jointly formulated in a series of co-speculation workshops in the spring of 2023. They inspired the exhibits that are displayed at »Airbound«. The exhibition documents this exchange and connects research and the public, individuals and communities, breath and atmosphere.

The interactive exhibits problematize the technical promises of climate engineering and life lived under the pressure of ever-increasing emissions. They present designerly and research-based approaches to air as a medium and to the intimate processes of breathing. If critical climatic tipping points are passed, what kind of air would we inhabit? What kinds of local approaches and alternative 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

Exhibition concept and design: Mina Mahouti
Curation: Dr. Léa Perraudin & Dr. Martin Müller
Project management: Dr. Kristin Werner
Workshop concept: Dr. Kristin Werner & Antje Nestler
Consultancy on the topic of air: Clemens Winkler
Interaction design process: Martin Kim Luge
Communication: Antje Nestler & Solveig Steinhardt
Textile production: Katja Lonzeck
Design assistant: Eva Bullermann

Photos: © Michelle Mantel

“Airbound” is part of Berlin Science Week 2023.

Visiting Material Futures

Pop-up exhibition at the Futurium, May-August 2024

In cooperation with Matters of Activity and the Futurium

What material futures can we envision if we engage in collaborative speculation? The pop-up exhibition »Visiting Material Futures« at Futurium Berlin was dedicated to exploring this question. The exhibition focused on the possible role of active materials in future everyday life. It presented ideas put forward by researchers from the Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity« and participants in our co-design workshops.

»Visiting Material Futures« provided insights into active materials and material concepts that might shape life in the future in novel and unexpected ways: Architects Maxie Schneider and Bastian Beyer, PhD, presented possibilities for new urban concepts based on temperature-adaptive materials. Johanna Hehemeyer-Cürten and Dr. Michaela Eder raised questions about designs based on tree bark. Futures emerging from novel forms of human-machine interaction, possibly even using degradable bioplastics, were brought to life in Anna Schäffner’s and Eva Bullermann’s design research. Finally, Natalija Miodragović and Dimitra Almpani-Lekka enabled visitors to enter the world of mycelial architecture using structural fibers.

These concepts from design and materials research provided the basis for a series of co-creative speculation workshops. Futurium visitors explored possible future scenarios based on these material concepts and produced speculative sketches and rapid prototypes – ranging from future applications to new everyday material cultures – all of which became part of the exhibition.

CollActive Materials & Matters of Activity Team

Exhibition design: Eva Bullermann
Concept: Antje Nestler, Dr. Kristin Werner
Support: Julia Blumenthal, Richard Ley

Futurium Team
David Becker, Henning Humml, Charlotta Sauer

Contributing members of Matters of Activity

Dimitra Almpani-Lekka
Bastian Beyer, PhD
Eva Bullermann
Dr. Michaela Eder
Johanna Hehemeyer-Cürten
Natalija Miodragović
Anna Schäffner
Maxie Schneider