Robert Köpke, graduate from HFBK Hamburg and HGB Leipzig with a Master's degree in Curatorial Practice, currently works at the intersection of curation, design, and art. As a Research Associate at Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, he specializes in visualizing biodiversity data through mapping.
His work, which merges art, design, and social engagement, underscores the importance of dynamic public spaces. Robert is actively involved in community-centric projects, focusing on sustainability and collaborative design methods. His contributions to projects like the Floating University Berlin and R-Urban in Paris showcase his ability to blend urban and ecological aspects in his curatorial endeavors. Committed to transforming societal structures, Robert creates participatory experiences that appeal to diverse audiences.
- What if...?
- (Exhibition)
- The exhibition “What if…? A Transdisciplinary Discourse on the Future of Healthy, Green Cities” is the culmination of a four-month artist residency in Berlin. This exhibition showcases the collaboration between artists and scientists, offering insights into the impacts of urban nature on city life. Visitors are invited to reflect on the complexity of urban spaces and the role of nature in urban environments. This blend of artistic expression and scientific research fosters new narratives and perspectives.
Klaus Bock’s installation provides insights into the paths of the city’s often overlooked inhabitants. Nilra Zoraloglu reveals the multifaceted nature of Berlin’s soils. Lena Gätjens invites visitors to a shift in perspective through her audiovisual tour, while Nicole Schuck explores Berlin’s green niches and makes the creatures residing there visible.
“What if…?” encourages visitors to consider possible alternative futures through current scientific research and artistic works, envisioning Berlin as an even more livable, green city.
Venue: Haus der Statistik, Otto
In Collaboration: The Nature of City Festival Berlin 2024
Organisation: Prof. Dr. Aletta Bonn and Prof. Dr. Lucy Norris
Artists: Klaus Bock, Lena Gätjens, Nicole Schuck, Nilra Zoraloglu
Graphic Design: Hagen Tanneberger
Photography: Maximilian Koppernock
Date: June 07 - June 09, 2024
Financed by: Landesbeauftragte für Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege / Senatsverwaltung für Mobilität, Verkehr, Klimaschutz und Umwelt, Berlin
- What if...?
- (Artist Resideny)
- In the spring of 2024, Aletta Bonn, Berlin State Commissioner for Nature Conservation and Landscape Preservation, invited four artists to participate in a three-month residency program. The goal was to learn more about Berlin’s urban nature and to develop artistic works in collaboration with scientists from various fields of ecology. The selected artists were Lena Gätjens, a performative artist; Nicole Schuck, who closely integrates biodiversity research into her practice; Klaus Bock, an artist who examines the role and presence of insects in his work; and Nilra Zoraloglu, a material-based artist.
The initial meeting took place at the Institute of Zoology, Freie Universität Berlin, where both scientists and artists presented their working methods and projects. Potential collaborations were discussed, and initial ideas for artistic works were developed. This meeting laid the foundation for partnerships combining scientific perspectives and artistic viewpoints.
2. Early Bloomers and Greenhouses (Botanical Garden):
The second excursion led participants to the Berlin Botanical Garden. Guided by Dr. Gerald Parolly, they explored the outdoor areas and learned about the challenges of climate change and plant care. After touring the outdoor sections, Rebecca Rongstock presented the fungi and lichen collection and the soil laboratory. The day concluded with a visit to a greenhouse where experiments with spring onions and clover were being conducted.
3. Park at Südgelände:
The third excursion took participants to the Natur-Park Schöneberger Südgelände. Guided by Prof. Ingo Kowarik, they explored the former railway marshalling yard, experiencing the unique combination of technology, art, and nature. A moment of silence was encouraged, inviting participants to close their eyes and listen to the sounds of the environment.
4. Strategies, Institutes, and New Perspectives:
The fourth meeting focused on the release of the Biodiversity Strategy at the Botanical Garden. The Freie Universität Berlin, including the Botanical Garden, aims to actively contribute to environmental conservation. The new strategy, presented on May 22, 2024, International Day for Biological Diversity, focuses on promoting urban flora and fauna on campus. Workshops and lectures were offered, including contributions from residency artists Lena Gätjens and Klaus Bock, who provided new perspectives on urban life and the relationship between science and art.
This residency fostered a rich dialogue between art and science, deepening the understanding of Berlin’s urban nature and its myriad connections to human life.
Organisation: Prof. Dr. Aletta Bonn and Prof. Dr. Lucy Norris
Artists: Klaus Bock, Lena Gätjens, Nicole Schuck, Nilra Zoraloglu
Photography: Maximilian Koppernock
Date: February to May 2024
- From the
- Perspective of the
- Safety Net
- (Exhibition)
- The exhibition “From the Perspective of the Safety Net”, the culmination of a three-month artist residency at iDiv, showcased a dynamic collaboration between artists and scientists. It offered insights into the diverse impacts of biodiversity on human health and the macroecology of invasive plant species. This exhibition encouraged visitors to reflect on the complexities of environmental change through a blend of artistic expression and scientific research, fostering new narratives and understandings.
Snow Paik’s installation highlighted the extinction of fish species, Nike Kühn developed a typography from 3D root scans of Japanese knotweed to document her interactions with different iDiv scientists, Steph Joyce’s installation invited visitors to explore participatory rewilding practices, and Julie Hart’s video installation explored the relationship between traditional handicraft and the human desire to exert control over a changing natural world.
Venue: Deutsches Zentrum für integrative Biodiversitätsforschung (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Collaboration: Sophie Wolf, Thore Engel
Financing: iDiv, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Universität Leipzig, Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena, Martin-Luther-Universität Jena
Photography: Maximilian Koppernock
Date: May to September 2023
Links: iDiv–Artist Residency
- From the
- Perspective of the
- Safety Net
- (Artist Resideny)
- In spring 2023, the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig and the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ) launched an artist residency program. Four transdisciplinary conceptual artists – Snow Paik, Steph Joyce, Nike Kühn, and Julie Hart – were invited to engage in a three-month exploration of biodiversity and ecological research, blending art and science perspectives.
2. Forest Bathing in Leipzig’s Floodplain Forest: Conducted by Kevin Rozario from the University of Jena and iDiv, this session introduced the practice of forest bathing, focusing on its health benefits, particularly for mental well-being. The experience highlighted ongoing research into how tree diversity affects mental health.
3. Canopy Crane Experience in Leipzig Floodplain Forest: The residency group explored forest biodiversity and ecology from a unique vantage point using a 40-meter tall crane. Accompanied by Teja Kattenborn from Leipzig University, they learned about remote sensing techniques in forest studies, recognizing their scientific and artistic potential.
4. Studio Visits at the Former Cotton Spinning Mill in Leipzig: These visits offered insights into the artists' creative processes and techniques, fostering discussions about art, concepts, and the upcoming final exhibition.
Overall, the residency program fostered a rich dialogue between art and science, deepening understanding of biodiversity and its myriad connections to human life.
Photography: Maximilian Koppernock
Date: February to May 2023
Links: iDiv–Artist Residency
- The exhibition at the GRASSI Museum für Völkerkunde in Leipzig, titled “Fermenting: Perspectives on East” and part of RE:OPENING NO.3, builds on the “Erfrischungsraum 2” intervention from the OSTEN Festival in Bitterfeld-Wolfen. It explores the concept of “East” through the metaphor of fermentation, a process of transformation and preservation, symbolizing dynamic relationships and the potential for reimagining futures. The exhibition is divided into three chapters: TRANSFORMING, SPECULATING, FERMENTING.
Venue: GRASSI Museum für Völkerkunde zu Leipzig
Partners: Supported by tax funds based on the Saxon State Parliament budget and funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), as per German Bundestag resolution
Collaboration: Lisa Dreykluft, Robert Köpke, Insa Langhorst, Martin Naundorf, Iana Pitenko, Martha Schwindling
Contributions: Eric Meier, Trakal, Paula Erstmann, Anna Torkareva, Sean Roy Parker, Slavs and Tatars, Soy Division, Guy Eytan, Chinook Ulrich Schneider, Diego Bianchi, Stefan Vogel, and others
Photography: Maximilian Koppernock
Date: December 2022 - August 2022
Links: HGB Leipzig, Grassi Museum
- For the first festival weekend of OSTEN festival, participants of the “Cultures of the Curatorial” master's program from the Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig developed a diverse program within a bar architecture, serving as an open and flexible meeting space.
- The projects, created by three working groups, engage with the Kulturpalast and Bitterfeld. The title “ERFRISCHUNGSRAUM 2” recalls the former “Erfrischungsraum” bar in the building's basement, soon to be filled with concrete. As part of the festival, this soon-to-be-lost space is temporarily revived: elements of the original bar's inventory are incorporated into the furnishings of “ERFRISCHUNGSRAUM 2”, located outside the Kulturpalast. Prior to the festival, the organizers invited interested individuals and Bitterfeld residents to gather and create new stories, aiming to make “ERFRISCHUNGSRAUM 2” a place for lingering and engaging in conversation during the festival.
Venue: Kulturpalast Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Parsevalstraße 2a, 06749 Bitterfeld-Wolfen
Partner: Supported by tax funds based on the Saxon State Parliament budget and funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), per German Bundestag resolution
Collaboration: Lisa Dreykluft, Robert Köpke, Insa Langhorst, Martin Naundorf, Iana Pitenko, Martha Schwindling
Photography: Friederike Butter
Date: July 2022
Links: OSTEN Festival
- The association Atelier d’Architecture Autogeree in Paris, France is a collective platform dedicated to researching and intervening in the cultural, social and political changes of the contemporary city. With the help of “urban tactics”, people are to be encouraged to use unused spaces in a self-organised way. For such strategies, aaa uses the term “urban resilience”. The interconnected and complementary institutions link the fields of action economy, housing, urban agriculture and culture. R-Urban initiates locally closed ecological circles to support the development of alternative models of living, producing and consuming between city and country.
Location: AgroCité in Gennevilliers, AgroCité in Bagneaux, Atelier d’Architecture Autogeree, Paris
Partner: Atelier d’Architecture Autogeree, Doina Petrescu & Constantin Petcu
Photography: Atelier d’Architecture Autogeree, Robert Köpke
Date: September 2019 to January 2020
Links: R-Urban
- “New Ways of Working” analyzes changes in hierarchical structures due to digitalization in a large industrial company. It explores the historical evolution of workplace hierarchies and critically assesses current reorganizations using concepts like sociocracy, holacracy, and empowerment. The study, focusing on three different departments, concludes that these changes lead to only apparent participation, shifting workload from management to employees without offering true self-organization. It questions the feasibility of implementing non-hierarchical organizational structures in such a large company.
- In the installation, a recreated workplace of the 1980s, there are hidden Augmented Reality animations that become visible by using a mobile device. The animations stand as a metaphor for new ways of working that are superimposed on 1980s corporate structures without changing or questioning the existing system.
Location: HFBK Hamburg
Photography: Maximilian Koppernock
Date: July 2019
- “Shadow Play - on lemons, Mikropol and being invisible” was a group exhibition to investigate possible future developments of the Micropol and the neighborhood.
- First we approached the area with the help of several dérives. We "structured" these dérives through our personal belongings in the city, in life concepts and our skills (under the aspects “spatial”, “contextual” and “relational”). In this way, we were able to free ourselves from the usual patterns of thinking and get an unbiased view on Rothenburgsort. On the basis of the dérives we designed various mini-scenarios that could happen around the Mikropol in the future. Topics and questions such as “What stories are told?”, the question of “cultural appropriation”, “gentrification struggles” and “How do I become visible?”, but also “How do I remain invisible?” appeared in the scenarios.
- The scenarios designed in the collective were formulated and form the basis of the exhibition. We tell the stories of the shadow of the Elbtower, dancing lemons, a fenced micropol, children performing themselves and blind spots.
Location: Hamburg, Rothenburgsort
Collaboration: Freies Design class – HFBK Hamburg & Jeanne van Heeswijk; Mikropol
Photography: Freies Design class
Date: October 2018 - February 2019
- The Floating University Berlin was a interdisciplinary lab for collective learning and knowledge exchange, utilizing the rainwater basin of the former Tempelhof Airport in 2018 as a venue for seminars, workshops, and discussions on urban practices.
Location: Berlin Kreuzberg
Collaboration: Design for the Living World class – HFBK Hamburg & Marjetica Potrč; with Raumlabor Berlin, Kathrine Ball, Royal Academy the Hague
Photography: Raumlabor Berlin, Design for the Living World class
Date: April 2018 - September 2018
Links: Design for the Living World