About the production

Start

2:30 p.m.

End

6 p.m.

The Lausitz Labor is the traditional venue for philosophy, lectures and discussions at the Lausitz Festival. Over the course of three days, leading authors and philosophers gather at the Altes Stadthaus in the heart of Cottbus, drawing inspiration from various festival experiences to engage in dialogue and explore ideas further. This festival season will feature productions such as Shakespeare’s »Hamlet« and »Symphony of 100 Metronomes«, based on György Ligeti’s »Poème Symphonique« – as well as our 2026 inspiration theme: geschöpferisch (creature and creative in one word).

Do come along and share your thoughts and perspectives with us.

Curatorial Team:

Christoph Menke, Christiane Voss
Lars Dreiucker, Fulvia Modica

2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Opening of Lausitz Labor

Daniel Kühnel

Christoph Menke

Christiane Voss

3:15 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Symphony of 100 Metronomes

The Lausitz Labor 2026 opens its doors to György Ligeti’s provocative and progressive »Poème Symphonique«. 100 metronomes begin to tick simultaneously. Yet each metronome continues at its own pace. With every device that falls silent, the soundscape changes: rhythms become distinct, shifts become apparent. Time becomes tangible and audible.

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Listen to Time, Think about Future

Media scholar Lorenz Engell and philosopher Thomas Khurana will draw inspiration from the Metronome Concert for their joint discussion. Whilst Lorenz Engell conducts research into film and media theory, Thomas Khurana explores modern and contemporary interpretations of the concept of freedom. Can aesthetic experience be translated into social and political thought? What does repetition mean – in art, in thought, but also in history? Can something new emerge from repetition?

Speaker

Lorenz Engell

Thomas Khurana

Special offer for students

For students and doctoral candidates who do not live in Cottbus, we offer accommodation in Cottbus and travel expenses for the entire lab weekend from 29 to 31 August.

Please get in touch with Fulvia Modica: f.modica@lausitz-festival.eu

 Free entrance

Media Scholar and Guest

Lorenz Engell

Prof. Dr Lorenz Engell is Professor of Media Philosophy at the Bauhaus University Weimar. His research interests include the ontology, anthropology and aesthetics of media. His primary areas of focus are film, television, dioramas, digital images and space-related media. His most recent book is »Ontographies. A Media Philosophy of Immanence« (2026).

Philosopher and Guest

Thomas Khurana

Prof. Dr Thomas Khurana is Professor of Philosophical Anthropology and Philosophy of Mind at the University of Potsdam and heads the university’s Centre for Post-Kantian Philosophy. His recent research focuses on a critique of the modern relationship with nature. His most recent publication is »The Life of Freedom in Kant and Hegel« (Cambridge University Press, 2026).

Philosopher and Host

Christoph Menke

Prof. Dr Christoph Menke is Professor of Practical Philosophy at the Institute of Philosophy at Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main. In recent years, his research has focused on the question of »Normativität und Freiheit« in the fields of philosophy of law, political philosophy and aesthetics. His most recent publication is »Theorie der Befreiung« (2022).

Philosopher and Host

Christiane Voss

Prof. Dr Christiane Voss is Professor of Philosophy and Aesthetics at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Her research and teaching focus on media philosophy, philosophical aesthetics and anthropology. She is currently the coordinator of the DFG Research Training Group »Medienanthropologie« at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Her most recent publication (co-authored with Lorenz Engell) is »Die Relevanz der Irrelevanz. Aufsätze zur Medienphilosophie« (2022).