What do plants, animals, humans and cities have in common? They all have vascular systems - complex infrastructures that are essential for their function and survival. A special exhibition at the Charité Museum of Medical History in Berlin is now dedicated to these mostly hidden systems. It is part of the __matter Festival 2025, a science festival for material culture in Berlin, organised by the "Matters of Activity" Cluster of Excellence at Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin.
In the human body, the heart pumps blood through arteries and veins. Plants have a finely branched vascular system for the transport of water and nutrients. Cities utilise an underground network of sewers that supplies clean water and drains waste water. The exhibition provides insights into the work of designers, material scientists and surgical researchers who are working together on solutions for the future - inspired by nature, technology and the logic of living systems. For example, what impact can living systems have on the development of artificial and bioartificial donor organs?
At a glance
"Vessels: Infrastructures of Life" - an interdisciplinary special exhibition at Charité's Museum of Medical History
Where: Berlin Museum of Medical History of the Charité, Virchowweg 17, 10117 Berlin
When: 5 June to 12 October 2025
Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun: 10 am - 5 pm; Wed, Sat: 10 am - 7 pm; Mon: Closed
Vernissage on 4 June 2025, 7-10 pm, accompanying programme on 28 June, 13 August, 15 September and 12 October 2025 (see below for details)
Supporting programme
Sat. 28 June 2025, 5-6 p.m.
Lecture theatre ruins, Virchowweg 16
Presentation of the exhibition with Prof. Dr Igor M. Sauer, Prof. Dr Moritz Queisner, Dr Eriselda Keshi, Dr Assal Daneshgar and Iva Re?etar
Wednesday, 13 August 2025, 5-6 p.m.
Curatorial guided tour with Prof. Dr Igor M. Sauer and Navena Widulin
Mon, 15 September, 17:30 - 21:30
Embassy of Spain in Germany, Lichtensteinallee 1, 10787 Berlin
Discourse on organ donation in Germany and Spain, panel discussion with Dr Dr Sandra Loder, Prof Dr Johan Pratschke, Prof Dr Beatriz Domínguez Gil, Prof Dr Eduardo Mi?ambres and Prof Dr José ?ngel López Baena,
Moderation: Christian Maier. Followed by a reception.
Sun. 12 October 2025, 2-5 p.m.
Lecture hall ruins, Virchowweg 16
Finissage and panel discussion: "Vascular structures in the body and in the city" with Prof. Timothy Moss, Prof. Dr Andreas Greiner, Stephan Natz and Prof. Dr Igor M. Sauer, moderated by Friederike Walch-Nasseri. Followed by a reception and tour of the exhibition.
About the __matter Festival 2025
The exhibition takes place as part of the __matter Festival 2025, a science festival for material culture in Berlin, which will radically question our understanding of materials as passive, ahistorical substances in exhibitions, workshops and discussions at twelve locations from April to October 2025. The __matter Festival is organised by the DFG-funded Cluster of Excellence "Matters of Activity" at Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin.
Further information
Website of the Berlin Museum of Medical History of the Charité
To the programme of the __matter Festival 2025