Project Weeks / October 2-19 2018 / 12am-4pm, 1st meeting Oct 2, 12pm

Over the course of three weeks we focus on the practice of walking and the narratives and politics, history and memories interwoven in the layers of public and urban space. Together we start to discover our cities, we stroll around, we study our natural environment and the artistic interventions embedded. In a second step we try to analyze those hidden stories, patina and art projects in order to create immersive walking experiences. How can we put attention on the always overlooked? How can we take political action and create awareness for living circumstances in our cities? Along our personal discoveries and readings around walking and public space, we will define rules and patterns of walking. In workshop sessions, we will practice ideation techniques for creative storytelling and concept development, and take a look at the different tools and technologies at our disposal. Prior knowledge is a plus (in fields like audio-visual, Adobe Creative Suite, coding, AR/VR, mapping, etc.) but no specific skills are required. An interest for technologies and digital culture, as well as the openness to learn new things is a must. A special focus will be put on technologies we use and master on a daily basis such as the video, camera, filter and face detection functions on our smartphones, as well as pre-built and easy-to-use apps for Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence or 3D scanning. Potential projects could be: video walks, sound walks, mixed reality walks paper chases (Schnitzeljagd), poetry walks, urban games, walks using (location) data from apps like Google maps, Tinder, AI controlled walks (Siri), surveillance walks, etc.

The seminar is structured into input sessions and readings in the first week, observation and ideation in the second, and production in the third. In class, we will jointly discuss the subject as well as give feedback on technological, conceptual, and aesthetic aspects of the projects.

The class will be taught in English. All communication during the seminars as well as literature and auxiliary materials will be in English.