„There Is No Such Thing as a Fish” – Film Screening and Talk

„There Is No Such Thing as a Fish” – Film Screening and Talk

Carolyn Kirschner (Artist S+T+ARTS Ec(h)o / Goldsmiths University of London) in Dialogue with Dr. Rita Mateus (Research Group Leader Physics of Life Excellence Cluster, TUD & MPI-CBG); Moderation: Katrin Boes (Public Relations Office MPI-CBG)

Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 6 pm

Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG)
Auditorium
Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307 Dresden

With the short film „There Is No Such Thing as a Fish“, Carolyn Kirschner explores the scientific, cultural, and societal significance of one of the world's most widely used laboratory organisms: the zebrafish. Created in 2024/25 as part of her S+T+ARTS Ec(h)o Residency at the Office for Academic Heritage (Kustodie), TUD Dresden University of Technology, the film emerged through close collaboration with researchers from MPI-CBG, CRTD, and TUD. It traces the zebrafish across its various habitats—from the research laboratory to pet shops, server rooms, and its natural environment in India—bringing artistic inquiry into dialogue with perspectives from Physics of Life research.

Following the screening, Carolyn Kirschner and Rita Mateus will join Katrin Boes in conversation to discuss the making of the film, the collaboration between art and science, and how artistic research can open up new perspectives on scientific models and biological organisms.

The event will be held in English. No registration is required, and admission is free.

The event is part of the exhibition "thinking. together. Who is actually part of the research?" (on view from 15 September to 26 November 2026) at the COSMO Science Forum at Kulturpalast Dresden.