Annual topics

The oldest reflections on forces can be found in meditations on nature (imbued with divinity or numinosity). The organization and modelling of natural forces in science and the arts are discussed.

A force is attributed to the arts, which is applied in their products as well as in the development of art forms and art historiography.

As parts of the general forces of nature, the forces of mankind model them artistically and technically. The research focuses on the imagination and physical forces in the physiological sense.

As 'second nature', cultural and social forces form their own dynamics in their historiography. Cohesive forces and dynamics of socio-political functional relationships are examined.

Forces, understood as hidden potentials, are articulated in concepts of possibility, virtuality or storage as well as in notions of 'dark', unconscious or numinous causes and agents.

Forces that manifest themselves as a resistant 'other' can be discussed in terms of reaction, resilience or competition, as well as phenomena of disruption, inhibition, or friction.

Forces are scaled according to degrees of intensity. Contrary to common associations of power and strength, this includes forms of dwindling, exhausted or subtle, barely noticeable forces.

Forces have a capacity to increase, which can appear as violence and destruction up to self-dissolution and follow logics / concepts of excess and escalation, of overpowering and transgression.