Prof. Ursula Damm Wins »Kunst am Bau« Competition in Berlin
The competition put out a call for artistic designs for a new science building in Berlin-Dahlem. The building is intended for researchers from various disciplines to work together on biodiversity in offices, laboratories, and communication areas that encourage discussion. Concepts were sought that incorporate architecture and outdoor space and emphasise the interdisciplinary character of the building. The aim is also to improve the dialogue between art and science.
A Biological Clock – The Rhythm of Life
Ursula Damm’s award-winning design illustrates the natural rhythm of two aquatic organisms: the water flea (Daphnia) and the tufted mosquito (Chaoborus). These organisms are connected through their predator-prey relationship. Damm translates scientific diagrams into her own graphic language. The rhythmic structure that she developed connects research and design by juxtaposing activity phases, migration, and developmental stages of the animals. Walking through the room reveals an annual cycle that harmoniously blends into the surrounding architecture. The installation is complemented by monitors on the ground floor, which show the behaviour of the animals in their natural environment and link artistic abstraction with real imagery.
The work is compelling in its artistic implementation of research and combination of scientific approaches. It provides a timeless abstract aesthetic that is not illustrative, but rather an independent interpretation«, said the jury. The superimposing of the results from several studies done in different decades encourages deciphering and exploratory thinking. The interdisciplinary collaboration between the artist and scientists was particularly well-received as a sign of the design’s cooperative potential.
For further information on the competition, visit: https://www.wettbewerbe-aktuell.de/ergebnis/kunst-am-bau-neubau-kooperationsgebaeude-biodiversitaet-dahlem-berlin-374658#resultInfo