{"id":151674,"date":"2025-09-23T10:38:50","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T08:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humboldtforum.org\/?post_type=event&p=151674"},"modified":"2025-10-10T12:12:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T10:12:22","slug":"the-colours-of-water-green","status":"publish","type":"event","link":"https:\/\/www.humboldtforum.org\/en\/programm\/termin\/science-and-humanities\/the-colours-of-water-green-151674\/","title":{"rendered":"The colours of water: Green"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The opening weekend of the exhibition \u2018On Water\u2019 from 9 to 12 October 2025 will focus on the \u2018colours of water\u2019. Although water is usually depicted as blue, it actually comes in a wide variety of shades \u2013 such as grey, black or red. Many of these colours have specific meanings or serve as technical designations.<\/p>\n

Taking up the multicoloured nature of the wet element, the colourful opening weekend will focus on three of these colours and their associations: on Friday on rivers (green water), on Saturday on water in the city (purple water) and on Sunday on drought (brown water).<\/p>\n

Green water<\/h4>\n

\u2018Green water\u2019 is not green at all, but almost invisible. In science, the term refers to naturally occurring soil and rainwater that is absorbed by plants and evaporates again \u2013 an invisible cycle that also feeds rivers and keeps their ecosystems alive. It is precisely this invisibility that is the focus of the day: how can the importance of rivers such as the Spree for social and ecological developments be brought more strongly into public awareness? And what changes when a river is regarded not only as a natural space and resource, but also as an independent legal entity?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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Programme<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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13:30\u201314:00 Uhr<\/h6>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Opening of the exhibition \u2018On Water\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Address by Julia von Blumenthal (President of Humboldt University of Berlin)<\/p>\n

Introduction by Anna-Lisa Dieter (curator of \u2018On Water\u2019)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Meet the Scientist \u2013\u00a0Short lectures on river research<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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14:00\u201314:30<\/p>\n

Christian Marx: The urban water cycle \u2013 where does the water go?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Drought! Flood! Rain! Drought! Headlines like these are becoming increasingly common around the world \u2013 and their significance for our lives is growing steadily. Cities and water management are under pressure to mitigate the effects of climate change. That is why we need to understand how urbanisation and climate are affecting the urban water cycle in Berlin.<\/p>\n

Together with Christian Marx, we embark on a journey along the Panke, a watercourse in northern Berlin. Where does its water come from? Where does it flow to? And what challenges and opportunities arise for the management of surface water and groundwater?<\/p>\n

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14:30\u201315:00<\/p>\n

Gerhard Scholtz: Crayfish in Berlin \u2013 Of crayfish kings and invasive species<\/strong><\/p>\n

It has been largely forgotten, but for many years in the 19th century, Berlin was the centre of crayfish (noble crayfish) fishing and trade in Europe. Particularly successful traders were popularly known as \u2018crayfish kings\u2019. The most respected crayfish king was Friedrich Wilhelm \u2018August\u2019 Micha (1826-1883). After completing an apprenticeship as a slipper maker, he entered the crayfish trade at an early age. From 1848 onwards, he ran the \u2018A. Micha\u2019 business at Spittelmarkt in the centre of Berlin. He took advantage of the explosive growth of the railway and shipped crayfish all over Europe. The distribution of crayfish thus became an important economic factor in Prussia. From the 1870s onwards, crayfish plague, which originated in America, largely destroyed the noble crayfish population. The crayfish trade collapsed. The introduction of an American crayfish species into the River Oder was intended to save the situation, but led to the further spread of crayfish plague. Today, there are no more noble crayfish in Berlin and the surrounding area. All crayfish living here belong to invasive species and are being combated.<\/p>\n

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15:00-15:45<\/h6>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Spree Flows Queer \u2013 Art, Design and Our Relationship with Water<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Artist talk with Jakob Kukula, Rasa Weber and Daniel Tyradellis<\/strong><\/p>\n

With their artistic works exhibited in \u2018On Water,\u2019 designer Rasa Weber and creator Jakob Kukula combine artistic research, ecology, design and river rights: the artificial reef SPREEUQ developed by Weber enables new habitats in rivers and seas, while the Spreeboje created by Kukula amplifies the digital and political voice of the river.<\/p>\n

Moderated by Daniel Tyradellis, the conversation explores the possibilities of using artistic and immersive practices to reveal hidden underwater ecologies, expand political discourse and initiate structural change. Can artistic approaches and design help to develop a new relationship with rivers and create a shared environment from the environment? Can design processes be created that focus not on humans but on ecosystems? And can queer ecologies help to renegotiate, beyond classical norms, which life is worth protecting? The dialogue invites the audience to understand water and rivers, as well as their inhabitants, as active co-creators of our society.<\/p>\n

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