Tension/Spannung
The expression ‘tension’ appears in manifold contexts with diverse meanings. We speak of social, religious, electrical, sexual, and creative tension. In all these cases, tension refers to a static but unstable state. Such a state is on the verge of a dynamic process that may be destructive as well as productive. Tension provides the condition for transformations, but determines neither their beginning nor outcome. As a state of undecided potentiality, tension promises us agency and demands our involvement, while also captivating us aesthetically. By exploring the critical role of tension, the ICI’s inaugural project also seeks to reflect upon the Institute’s mission. More details on the core project Tension/Spannung.
The project began in October 2007. In 2010, it started to focus on Kippbilder / Multistable Figures, in 2011 on Complementarity, in 2012 on Wholes Which Are Not One. The focus for 2013/14 will be Constituting Wholes.
Every year, fellows from various disciplines are invited to join their individual projects to the core project and work through common, focused questions in weekly colloquia and other encounters at the ICI. Within the same thematic frame, the ICI organizes and hosts a variety of events and produces publicatons both in print and online.
Series
The ICI has developed a number of series specifically for the core project Tension/Spannung, including:
Formats
Within the frame of its core project, the ICI Berlin organizes events in a variety of formats.
Books and Edited Issues
In addition to online video documents of events, outcomes of the core project include the publication of books and edited issues.
Cultural Inquiry
The ICI also organizes and/or supports a variety of other events fitting its concept of Cultural Inquiry. You can browse all events by date or by format.
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