Clemens Winkler (*1982, Halle, Germany) has established an integrative experimental design approach to science, art, and technology. Here, his Laboratory for Narrative Materials, founded in London, Zurich, Berlin (2013-now) aims to collectively speculate on what new aesthetics, agency, and narratives we can create to make highly technologically mediated and contaminated worlds habitable and tangible for us.

In addition to his studio practice, Clemens worked on integrating his understanding of material physics and chemistry gained from his studies in experimental physics and industrial design at  Burg Halle, into New Media at UdK Berlin (2005-10) and at MIT Media Labs (2012). His material-led approach led to the co-establishment of the research and teaching platforms «BauKunstErfinden» (2012+) at UniKassel and «Enactive Environments» at ZHdK Zurich with  ETH Zurich, materialarchiv.ch, and EMPA (2013-19).

He is expanding his design understanding with scientific methods by furthering his critical focus in the humanities as a design researcher (2019-2025) at the Cluster of Excellence «Matters of Activity. Image Space Material» at Humboldt University Berlin. His research here deals explicitly with the analysis and control of material systems at a granular level, utilizing aerial, meteorological, and climatic terminologies, building upon cloud installations and participatory workshops on air and water from his doctoral thesis at Kunstuni Linz (2016-2019).

On a speculating-led strand, he studied social, ecological and political implications of new material developments as «Fictional Materials» at the RCA London in the MA Design Interactions, and taught at the MA  «University of the Underground,» Sandberg Institute Amsterdam, and the MA´ «Material Futures,» Central Saint Martins London, «IDK» UdK Berlin (2015-2022).

In his experience, materials transformed from functional placeholders into performative protagonists who can mediate new narratives between different stakeholders, reality and fiction.

In a resulting alchemical theater of play, learning, and sharing, Clemens brings elements such as disobedient clouds, code, machines, and excavated sites to the forefront. He holds a new  media professorship for the MA Studio «Spiel & Objekt» at the University for Theatre Arts Ernst Busch Berlin. Here, he collaborates with various institutes, including the Earth System Analysis Research at PIK Potsdam.

He has exhibited and curated internationally at venues such as the V&A London, Science Gallery Dublin & Bangalore, Design Museum Zurich, Aedes Berlin, MIT Museum Boston, Bauhaus Foundation Dessau, and the Tieranatomisches Theater Berlin.

list of selected international exhibitions, publications, talks, and seminars

Research Studio address:
Sophienstrasse 22a, D-10178 Berlin at EXC MoA, HU Berlin

MA Studio address:
Zinnowitzerstrasse 11, D-10115 Berlin

 
mail[at]clemenswinkler.com

Digital Workspace on Instagram Flickr