Ran Zhang
^(Artist)

Prof. Dr. Christian Hackenberger
^{(Biomolecule Modification & Delivery, Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology)}

Dr. Martin Schwemmle
^{(Founder & CEO, The Future Company)}

in conversation with
Sorana Serban-Chiorean
^{(Associate Director, Galeria Plan B)} 
Joerg Geier
^(ANSC)

Wenesday, 12 March 2025
Galeria Plan B
Strausberger Platz 1, 10243 Berlin
Get-together: 6:30 PM, Start: 7:00 PM

Sparkling wine, white wine and mineral water are included in ticket price
Tickets: 15 Euro (Free entrance for ANSC Members)

ABOUT THIS SALON

Art and science are often viewed as opposing forces—one driven by intuition and emotional resonance, the other by logic and empirical rigor. While art is seen as an exploration of subjectivity, embracing ambiguity and personal interpretation, science seeks to uncover objective truths through observation, experimentation, and structured methodology. However, these two fields are far from separate; rather, they are deeply intertwined, each offering unique ways of understanding and interpreting the world. Both artists and scientists are, at their core, seekers of knowledge. They ask profound questions, push boundaries, and challenge existing paradigms. Art has the power to visualize complex scientific ideas, making them more accessible, engaging, and emotionally resonant. Meanwhile, science provides artists with new tools, materials, and perspectives, allowing for groundbreaking innovations in artistic practice.

But how can art & science actively inspire one another? How can they foster new ways of thinking, feeling, and seeing, ultimately leading to novel discoveries and creative breakthroughs? Inspired by the artwork of Ran Zhang, we will delve into these questions, examining how artistic and scientific disciplines intersect and inform each other and what role nature plays. 

What can the methodologies of art and biology teach us about perception, observation, and discovery? How can we use all of our senses – not just sight– to engage with the world around us? How does the study of life serve as a metaphor for our own experiences, identities, and evolving relationships with the natural world? How has the natural environment historically influenced both artistic expression and scientific discovery? How does nature serve as a source of both inspiration and inquiry? Can artistic imagination open new pathways for scientific thought?

By embracing this dialogue, we may be able to uncover new ways to engage with the world, bridging the divide between the creative and the analytical, the intuitive and the empirical.

Ran Zhang studied at the Fine Arts Dept. of Gerrit Rietveld Academie and the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, graduating in 2013. She received multiple prizes like the Danfoss Art Award in 2007 and substantial funding through the Mondriaan Fonds. She was a resident at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten & Asia Culture Center in Gwangju, S. Korea.

Prof. Dr. Christian Hackenberger studied chemistry in Freiburg, Madison/Wisconsin, Aachen and Boston. Since 2012 he is Leibniz-Humboldt Professor of Chemical Biology at Humboldt University and the Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology. He founded Tubulis GmbH, a company developing antibody-based therapeutics against cancer.

Dr. Martin Schwemmle is a future skills expert, keynote speaker, author, and CEO of The Future Company. With a background in business and innovation research, he explores strategy, innovation, and transformation. A jury member for the Literaturpreis der deutschen Wirtschaft, he is also a passionate singer, designer, and storyteller.