Vessels: Infrastructures of Life

What do plants, animals, humans and cities have in common? They all have vascular systems and therefore an infrastructure without which they would not be able to survive.

In the human body, arteries and veins move the blood together with the heart. Plants have a finely branched vascular system for the transport of water and nutrients. And cities utilise an underground network of pipelines that supply clean water and remove waste water.

What can medicine learn from these natural and technical supply systems? What role does the interdisciplinary view - between biology, design, materials research and medical technology - play for regenerative medicine? And what innovative approaches can be derived from this for the development of artificial and bioartificial donor organs?

The exhibition provides insights into the work of designers, material scientists and surgical researchers who are working together on solutions for the future – inspired by nature, technology and the logic of living systems.

Discover how vessels shape life in all its forms!

The temporary exhibition »Vessels: Infrastructures of Life« is a collaboration of the Berlin Museum of Medical History and the Department of Experimental Surgery at the Charité with the Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity« at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin as part of the __matter Festival 2025. The accompanying programme has been generously supported by the Stiftung Charité.

With contributions by: Assal Daneshgar, Emile De Visscher, Frédéric Eyl, Karl Hillebrandt, Eriselda Keshi, Theresa Lohmann, Dietrich Polenz, Moritz Queisner, Iva Rešetar & Igor M. Sauer

Photo: Corrosion Cast of Liver Vessels, Dietrich Polenz 2023, Image: Igor Sauer, 2025