A Platform for Art and Neuroscience. A 21st Century Challenge. Artist Olafur Eliasson, curator Christine Macel, neuroscientist Ernst Poppel, architect Philippe Rahm and neurobiologist Semir Zeki introduce their work. The event thus also serve as an introduction into the full thematic scope of the new Association.
with lectures by
Semir Zeki, Professor of Neuroesthetics, University College London
Christine Macel (Chief Curator for Contemporary Art, MNAM, Centre
Pompidou, Paris)
Philippe Rahm (Architect and artist, Paris)
Ernst Pöppel (Professor of medical Psychology, Director of the Institute
of Medical Psychology Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munchich)
Olafur Elissaon (Artist, Copenhagen and Berlin)
Discussion and Library Visit
Sciences, Humanities and the Arts have made remarkable progress in recent decades, but have so far not
been able to combine forces.
A number of research institutes throughout the world have embarked on the scientific study of the arts in
order to learn more about what it fundamentally means to be human, and how human characteristics and
human potential are based on neurobiological processes. Nevertheless, the dialogue between the arts
and neurosciences is still not at the centre of their research.
Artists, art historians and scholars in cultural studies, as well as curators and neuroscientists are increasingly
demanding to intensify cooperation between their disciplines in order to open up new perspectives for the
sciences and the arts.
It is the aim of the Association of Neuroesthetics, a European initiative originating at the
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin to bring together both the knowledge acquired and the methods
employed by contemporary artists and neuroscientists in order to work towards a shared language.
It is the Association’s hope that new artistic projects and new approaches in research and the arts may
emerge that speak this new language.
Two symposia are planned for the years 2009 and 2010. As a new platform they are intended to allow artists,
art historians, scholars in cultural studies, curators and neuroscientists to begin a productive dialogue.
The following themes have been envisaged: “Color, Form and Light,“ “Temporality, Ambiguity and
Uncertainty” and “Subjective Mental States.” The results of these endeavours will be artistic projects,
research publications and conference proceedings, all accessible to the public.
At the inaugural event on May 8th, 2008, artist Olafur Eliasson, curator Christine Macel, neuroscientist
Ernst Pöppel, architect Philippe Rahm and neurobiologist Semir Zeki will introduce their work. The
event will thus also serve as an introduction into the full thematic scope of the new Association of
Neuroesthetics.
As part of the inauguration a specialised library for Neuroesthetics will be opened on the historical
campus of the Charité.
The event is supported by Deutsche Bank Kulturstiftung, Deutsche Guggenheim, Allianz Kulturstiftung,
Human Science Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and Institute of Neuroesthetics, University
College London.
Founding members:
Dr. Alexander Abbushi MD, Dept. of Neurosurgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
AON Executive Board, CEO
Prof. Karl Einhäupl Director, Dept. of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Prof. Detlef Ganten CEO, Charité- Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Daniel Jesse Business Advisor, Berlin
AON Business and Tax advisor
Christine Macel Curator, MNAM Centre Pompidou, Paris
Prof. Ernst Pöppe Director, Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
Tammo Prinz Architect
AON Executive Board
Prof. Eva Ruhnau Director, Human Science Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
PD Dr. Ulrich-Wilhelm Thomale Consultand, Pediatric Neurosurgery Dept. of Neurosurgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
AON Executive Board, Treasurer
Prof. Peter Vajkoczy Director, Dept. of Neurosurgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Prof. Semir Zeki Professor of Neuroesthetics, University College London
Press contact: artpress - Ute Weingarten
Tempelhofer Ufer 17 10963 Berlin
artpress@uteweingarten.de
Langenbeck-Virchow Haus
Luisenstr. 58-59, 10117 Berlin
5 – 8 pm.