Under the heading "Go Public!" the UNESCO City of Media Arts Karlsruhe presents experimental media art projects in public space. From February 11 to 16, 2023, ten students of the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG) will grant excerpts of their current work in the context of a temporary exhibition.
The different artistic positions reflect the world experiences of the young artists and refer to complex social processes, such as the relationship between analog and virtual space, the loss of natural spaces or the necessary production of new materials such as bioplastics. In a playful way, everyday situations are also depicted in the video works, which reflect on their encounters and experiences in the city of Karlsruhe due to the internationality of the students.
"Art must go public!" demands renowned artist and HfG professor Michael Bielicky, emphasizing, "In order to promote the values of art and culture, there must be a broader presence of art in urban spaces. This offers an opportune opportunity also for young artists to gain experience in the field of exhibitions and representations." In order to combine these factors, the seminar series "Go Public!" began back in 2007 under Bielicky's direction at the Hochschule für Gestaltung. In it, he challenged his digital media students to take ideas into public space under the motto "Get out of the HfG." Since then, various exhibitions have taken place, such as "Riding A Train" at Karlsruhe's main train station in 2007, in the Frauenalb monastery ruins in 2009, with "Wald halt - Eine multimediale Schwarzwaldidylle" in a snow-covered forest hut near Schöllbronn in 2010, or on Karlsruhe's market square in 2022 with projections on prominent building facades, such as the city church.
UNESCO City of Media Arts Karlsruhe has been supporting the ambitious media art project since 2021. "For the next generation of artists, we like to make common cause in Karlsruhe. "Go Public!" makes it possible to enjoy art in a spontaneous format, sets creative impulses and opens up new art spaces in the middle of the city that are accessible to everyone," says Anastasia Ziegler, head of the UNESCO City of Media Arts office at the Cultural Office of the City of Karlsruhe. A total of nine video works will be on view daily from 6 p.m. on the outdoor screen and in the foyer of the Neues Entrees of the Badisches Staatstheater. Chief dramaturge Sonja Walter explains, "Media art - especially in public space - is often temporary and fleeting. That suits theater! We are happy about the cooperation with the UNESCO City of Media Arts office of the city and the Hochschule für Gestaltung, which makes it possible to let current works of young artists* shine over the city and in our foyer."
**The launch of the art action will take place on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. on Theaterplatz at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe.
Participating artists: Éva B. Csonka and Hugo Almeida Pinho, Fedor/Becky, Anna-Lina Helsen, László Kőrösi, Pavel Polenz, Alicia Luna Ripp, Anastasia Wick, NJ Eunchae Won and Rui Zhang.
