The Berlin Conference, which took place from 15 November 1884 till 23 February 1885, assembled men representing actual Germany, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, USA, France, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia and Turkey engaging in one of the most efficient historical legalizations of ecological and human devastation. Thus, the waterway for the future flow of diamonds, gold, platinum, copper, cobalt, iron, uranium, bauxite, oil, and other raw materials was established. Mineral resources supply both our technological and biological bodies and are conductors of electric power, substance metabolism, and information transfer. They are the saps of our medialities. What else gets mediated and flows through these exchanges beyond human intentionality? Can we imagine or stage an ‘assembly of resources’, and what would it imply?
Assembly of Resources is a two-semester seminar. Assembly of Resources #1 was held during the winter semester of 2024/25 in collaboration with ORC - Open Resource Center, HfG, and Savvy Contemporary, Berlin. It started with a 4-day research excursion to Berlin and reading sessions that focused on the history and theory of extraction and colonialism. Assembly of Resources #2 takes place during the summer semester of 2025; this time, we will also investigate the life that exists within seemingly inert resources, continuing the series of field trips, reading sessions, workshops, and colloquia. Students are invited to develop their individual or collaborative projects and research, or to continue those initiated in the winter semester. In collaboration with the Living Library and Savvy Contemporary - exhibition opening on 14th November 2025.
Assembly of Resources is a two-semester seminar. Assembly of Resources #1 was held during the winter semester of 2024/25 in collaboration with ORC - Open Resource Center, HfG, and Savvy Contemporary, Berlin. It started with a 4-day research excursion to Berlin and reading sessions that focused on the history and theory of extraction and colonialism. Assembly of Resources #2 takes place during the summer semester of 2025; this time, we will also investigate the life that exists within seemingly inert resources, continuing the series of field trips, reading sessions, workshops, and colloquia. Students are invited to develop their individual or collaborative projects and research, or to continue those initiated in the winter semester. In collaboration with the Living Library and Savvy Contemporary - exhibition opening on 14th November 2025.
- Dozent/in: Filipa Cesar