A 21st Century Challenge
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.
Venue for the inaugural event: Langenbeck-Virchow Haus (Luisenstr. 58-59, 10117 Berlin), 5 – 8 pm.
