ZKM | Hertzlab

In an era defined by rapid technological transformations and deep uncertainties, the department of artistic research & development at ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe—ZKM | Hertzlab—stands as a vital space for exploring the complex interplay between art, science, and society. ZKM | Hertzlab operates between artistic research, speculative inquiry, and critical innovation. It delves into emerging questions of our shared technological, environmental, and social landscapes, inviting artists, researchers, and thinkers to envision and critique the very structures shaping our future.

Seeking partnerships and collaborations in an era that seeks to divide us
Our mission is a collaborative journey into the “what ifs” of tomorrow: what the world might look like in a century, how artificial intelligence will reconfigure human creativity and agency, and how societies will grapple with the scarcity of resources that once felt inexhaustible. Embracing the experimental and the speculative, ZKM | Hertzlab actively nurtures interdisciplinary research and development across six central themes: Lifecycles, Connect, Beyond-Human World, Health & Wellbeing, A Common(s) World, and Fellow Futures.

More on ZKM | Hertzlab’s themes here.
The thematic approach unfolds through multifaceted projects that prioritize both the processes and the outcomes of artistic research.

Lifecycles, for instance, interrogates materiality, sustainability, and cycles of natural and synthetic entities, of sound and generative visual arts. Connect seeks to unpack the rapidly shifting modes of communication, examining digital and biological networks that increasingly mediate our relationships with each other.

Health & Wellbeing is dedicated to speculative approaches to the body, exploring how new media and biotechnologies redefine not only health care but the concept of what “wellbeing” means. Beyond-Human World contemplates the implications of a world in which human agency is shared with artificial, augmented, and autonomous forms of intelligence. A Common(s) World interrogates notions of art as a common commodity, of the exploration of connection in a world seeking to divide us, asking how these commons might be reimagined to foster equity and inclusivity in increasingly privatized landscapes. Fellow Futures is a space for visionary collaboration, where artists and technologists engage in the co-creation of speculative futures that address global challenges.

Bringing new energy into sonic exploration with a new curator of music and sound art
ZKM has a long tradition on its music studios, residencies and concert programs. We present an energetic program that amplifies our commitment to future-focused experimentation. We invite audiences to experience immersive soundscapes and experimental performances that push the boundaries of auditory perception and sonic art in the spatial sound infrastructure of ZKM. You can expect exciting renewal, delving deep into sound as a potent medium for speculative and transformative exploration. 

Artistic research and development as a networked open-system activity
Through its extensive residency program, ZKM | Hertzlab nurtures an open, exploratory approach to future-thinking—seeking collaborations and partnerships globally to connect, learn and grow together. In alignment with the six themes, artists engage in deep research and develop pioneering projects that not only question present paradigms but also propose new modes of thinking, creating, and existing. In this space, speculation is not just a method but a tool for navigating an uncertain future. Each person we connect with brings their perspective to ZKM’s collective inquiry into what we want our future to look like—and how we might get there.

For further questions about ZKM and its artistic research program, refer to: 
Tina Lorenz
Department Lead Artistic Research & Development ZKM | Hertzlab
ZKM | Center for Art and Media, Karlsruhe
tina.lorenz@zkm.de