Im/materialities | InKüLe supported student workshops
Im/materialities (student-led workshops)
In the digital age, boundaries between material and immaterial worlds are increasingly blurred. Today's hybrid materialism challenges us to rethink the nature of matter and the ways in which our digital and physical realities interact. In this shifting landscape, how do digital technologies shape the materiality of objects, bodies or environments?
In the second edition of the InKüLe open call, it brings together a series of student-led workshops initiated and supported by InKüLe. Students are invited to propose a workshop topic they're currently researching in related to Im/materialities. InKüLe co-curates selected proposals, providing technical support, spatial organisation and general planning of the workshop. The workshops are open to students from all UdK departments to participate, offering a place for transdisciplinary exploration and exchange.
We are thrilled to share with you the selected workshops this year:
15 Jan 2025 | Objectify your body! Sculpting perceptions with 3D scans | Manuel Sinn
22 Jan 2025 | The Sound of Fabric | Maria Clara Almeida
26 & 27 Feb 2025 | Reshaping Plastics | Aron Petau
26 March 2025 | Shared Listening | Bea Targosz
Where: Design & Computation studio - TU main building, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin (https://www.newpractice.net/get-here)
Registration for UdK-students: Please complete this form. You will receive a confirmation from us when you have successfully registered.
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Im/materialities¹: Objectify your body! Sculpting perceptions with 3D scans (Manuel Sinn)
A workshop with Manuel Sinn, supported by Fang Tsai (InKüLe)
When: 15th January 2025 (Wed), 10:00 - 16:30
Where: Design & Computation studio - TU main building, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin (https://www.newpractice.net/get-here)
Registration for UdK-students: Please complete this form. You will receive a confirmation from us when you have successfully registered.
Bodies are subject to perpetual objectification: Systems of power turn them into fetishized objects of pleasure or transform them into incessantly grinding machines of labor. In this workshop, we will use 3D scanning to reclaim and subvert this process: We will explore and deconstruct body objectification by taking control of it ourselves.
Using 3D tools like Polycam and Blender, we will learn to transport our body into the digital realm, where we will entangle it with everyday objects. The result will be 3D sculptures that blur the lines between body and object, material and immaterial - A vase made from a human head? A plant from which fleshy hands emerge as leaves? Tables with actual human legs? A staircase made from feet? In this playful and potentially eerie exploration, there will be space for artistic expression, acquiring practical skills, and hopefully outcomes that will make us laugh or send shivers down our spines.
Finally, we want to create a little pop-up exhibition in Augmented Reality to showcase and collectively experience these im/material sculptures. Here we will discuss the implications and questions arising out of the works produced and the process that brought us there: What changes if we objectify our own bodies and retain control over the way this happens?
In this workshop you will get a hands-on introduction to accessible 3D scanning and manipulation tools, enabling you to use these technologies in your own projects. As a participant, you will leave with your own scanned body::object - no previous knowledge or scanning experience is required. Coupled with a critical perspective on the way bodies are perceived in society, let's engage in a playful collective exploration!
Language: English / German
Requirements:
- In this workshop we'll be using Blender (an open-sourced 3D software), please bring your laptop with blender 4 installed (https://www.blender.org/download/), no previous experience required. If you can't bring your own laptop, please note it in the registration form.
Manuel Sinn (he/him) holds a bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, studied Chinese in Taipei and has worked as a software developer and research assistant in projects spanning environmental technologies, participatory design and human-centric AI. He now explores topics at the intersection of society, politics, art and technology at Design and Computation.
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Im/materialities²: The Sound of Fabric (Maria Clara Almeida)
A workshop with Maria Clara Almeida, supported by Marcello Lussana (InKüLe)
When: 22th January 2025 (Wed), 11:00 - 16:00
Where: Design & Computation studio - TU main building, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin (https://www.newpractice.net/get-here)
Registration for UdK-students: Please complete this form. You will receive a confirmation from us when you have successfully registered. Don’t miss this chance to combine creativity, technology and sound design in a hands-on workshop! Spaces are limited, so sign up now.
Discover the intersection of textiles and sound in the exciting workshop “The Sound of Fabric”, part of the InKüLe project at the UdK Berlin! Led by UdK alumna Maria Clara Almeida, this workshop explores innovative approaches to artistic expression through electronic textiles and sound interaction.
Participants will learn how to create interactive textile sensors and use them to design sound projects with the programming software Max 8. The workshop consists of two phases: an introduction to sensors and electronic textiles, where each participant will create their own sensor, and collaborative work in pairs to explore sound interactions with Max 8. Tutorials and technical support will guide you through every step.
Workshop outcomes:
- Create a functioning textile sensor.
- Develop an interactive sound project.
What’s provided:
- A basic set of electronic textiles and components (free of charge).
- A computer to use during the workshop with Max 8.
Details:
- Teaching language: English
Clara Almeida is a former ballet dancer who transitioned her passion for the performing arts into a thriving career in costume design. Her love for storytelling through theater inspired her to dedicate herself to creating costumes that bring characters to life. Clara holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from her home country, Brazil, where she also managed a successful costume shop that exported costumes for dancers worldwide. This role gave her invaluable experience in design, craftsmanship, and international collaboration.
In 2022, Clara moved to Berlin to further her expertise by pursuing a Master's degree in Costume Design at the prestigious University of the Arts Berlin. Her studies were supported by a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). During her time at the university, she delved into the world of electronic textiles, discovering innovative ways to integrate traditional sewing and embroidery techniques with cutting-edge interactive sound technologies. Under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Berit Greinke, Clara explored the potential of wearable technology in performance, developing a unique approach that merges artistry with innovation.
Currently, Clara works as a Costume Manager at TUI Cruises, where she oversees the creation and maintenance of costumes for high-caliber productions. Alongside her professional work, she is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experiences. She actively plans and leads workshops, aiming to inspire the next generation of costume designers with her expertise in both traditional and experimental techniques.
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Im/materialties³: Reshaping Plastics (Aron Petau)
A workshop with Aron Petau, supported by Franz Siebler (InKüLe)
When: 26 & 27 February 2025 (Wed & Thu), 14:30 - 18:00
Where: Design & Computation studio - TU main building, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin (https://www.newpractice.net/get-here)
Registration for UdK-students: Please complete this form. You will receive a confirmation from us when you have successfully registered. Don’t miss this chance to combine creativity, technology and recycling in a hands-on workshop! Spaces are limited, so sign up now.
This hands-on workshop invites participants to actively address plastic pollution by transforming waste into durable, meaningful objects. Unlike traditional industrial recycling, which often prioritizes economic over ecological concerns, this workshop empowers individuals to reclaim and repurpose plastic in a way that fosters creativity, sustainability, and personal agency.
Participants will sort, wash, and shred plastic waste using a Precious Plastic Shredder, creating small flakes. These flakes will then be heated, transforming them into a malleable plastic mass, which will be molded using a DIY plastic sheet press. The resulting sheets will be finished with woodworking tools, and participants can add personal engravings with a CNC machine, allowing for unique, patterned designs.
Requirements:
- Students need to bring a laptop
- If you can't bring your own laptop, please note it in the registration form.
Details:
- Teaching language: English
- Who can join: Open to UdK students from all disciplines
- The workshop is planned with time for a lunch break
Aron Petau (he/him) studies Design and Computation at the Technical University and the University of the Arts Berlin. As a freelance supervisor of makerspaces, his focus lies at the intersection of media and technology education and creative processes.
With a background in Cognitive Science, Aron has already worked on several projects related to the digitalization of education. His interest lies primarily in technologies that enable self-empowerment. He is particularly passionate about 3D printing and is researching non-industrialized and decentralized approaches to recycling and reusing plastic sustainably, treating it not as waste but as a valuable resource.
Aron is also interested in reflecting on the societal impact of technologies and exploring ways to shape this impact in a collaborative and community-oriented manner.
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Im/materialties⁴: Shared Listening (Bea Targosz)
A workshop with Bea Targosz, supported by Anastasia Putsykina (InKüLe)
When: 26th March 2025 (Wed), 10:00 - 17:00
Where:Design & Computation studio - TU main building, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin (https://www.newpractice.net/get-here)
Registration for UdK-students: Please complete this form. You will receive a confirmation from us when you have successfully registered. Don’t miss this chance to combine creativity, technology and sound design in a hands-on workshop! Spaces are limited, so sign up now.
Discover the art of field recording and sound processing in this interactive workshop open to students from all departments—no prior experience required. Learn how to record and edit soundscapes, explore new ways of listening, and integrate sound into your artistic practice.
Planned for spring, the workshop begins with outdoor fieldwork in the areas surrounding the university. Participants will go on a guided walk to engage in direct listening and capture ambient sounds using professional equipment such as recorders, headphones, and microphones. In the second part, we’ll move indoors to process the collected recordings using Audacity (free software). Through hands-on editing exercises and group listening sessions, you’ll gain insight into how working with sound can shift your perception and reveal new creative possibilities.
Requirements:
- Students need to bring a laptop with Audacity installed (free software, download here https://www.audacityteam.org/).
- If you can't bring your own laptop, please note it in the registration form.
Details:
- Teaching language: English
- Who can join: Open to UdK students from all disciplines
- The workshop is planed with time for a lunch break