Material can be symbolic and coded. Our experience of a medium's temporality becomes apparent only through our knowledge of its material behaviour. As the world becomes ever more digital and physically removed, we rely on a lot of materials (technical equipment, tools and infrastructures) to facilitate the remote accessibility of images. And yet, as we become more physically removed, our fascination with 'real' stuff increases. The texts in Material Matters represent a great diversity of practices and materials, but also the diversity of meanings suggested by the book's title. They address the materials needed for the implementation of tasks, the material out of which things are made, the material for or subject matter of scholarly work, and matter itself: the raw materials of our surroundings. The texts in the publication derive from presentations given at the conference Material Matters, held at the Royal Institute of Art on December 13-14, 2018. Published in collaboration with the Royal Institute of Art, Stockholm, Sweden.