Connecting Classes were organized between participating Universities In preparation and as part of the International Media Art and Creativity Competition CDSA Festival to be launched in October 2024. Connecting Classes and Seminar were held at the Bauhaus University Weimar, connecting with the School of Art, Design and Media Nanyang Technological University and the Public Art Department China Academy of Art Hangzhou, April to July 2024.

Public Art Lab (PAL) is a Berlin based action research lab and platform for urban media art that investigates, curates, and produces artistic projects in the urban public sphere at the intersection of media arts, urban planning and creative technologies. PAL is specialised in creative citymaking, citizen science and translocal dialogue that empower social interactions and citizens’ engagement.

“Public Art Lab.” Public Art Lab, January 14, 2024. https://www.publicartlab-berlin.de/.

Beyond the Screens: City Digital Skin Art (CDSA) Festival 2024

Overview

The City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA) 2024, co-curated by Public Art Lab and initiated by the Public Art Department of the China Academy of Art, features the program “Beyond the Screens.” This initiative explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades to visualize ecologies, making climate change tangible and experiential in public spaces. The goal is to shape natural environments, recognize the dynamics of beyond-human organisms, and create impactful narratives that amplify the voices of these species in urban settings.

Seminar at Bauhaus University Weimar

From April to July 2024, a seminar at Bauhaus University Weimar will focus on developing narratives for ecological urgencies displayed on large digital infrastructures in Europe, Singapore, and China. Students will use AI-generated art tools, data, and sensing applications to craft videos for site-specific screens, transforming everyday spaces into dynamic, living screens that foster debates on nature and culture. This seminar is in collaboration with Prof. Reinhard König and master student Carolina Garcia.

Connecting Classes – International Online Seminars

During the Summer Semester 2024, the Connecting Classes initiative will feature online seminars with international experts in public art, design, urban media arts, and computer science. These one-hour lectures aim to explore various approaches to nature-data-narratives and their impact on large-scale digital infrastructures. The seminars will discuss transforming urban screens into ‘living screens’ and ‘visualisation zones,’ showcasing vibrant digital works generated through machine learning and eco-data visualizations.

City Digital Skin Art (CDSA) Festival 2024

The CDSA Festival is initiated by Prof. Jeng Zing / CAA and Yuelai Ruan, Deputy Director of the Department Public Space Art from the Chinese Academy of Art to investigate the impact of digital skins such as urban screens and media facades for hybrid placemaking with public art and culture.

In its 3rd edition Susa Pop / director of Public Art Lab and the Connecting Cities Network and   Prof. Ina Conradi-Chavez, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, School of Art, Design and Media / Design Department are co-curating the CDSA Festival with the programme ‘Beyond Urban Screens’.

Pop, Susa. “Beyond the Screens.” Public Art Lab Berlin, April 12, 2024. https://www.publicartlab-berlin.de/projects/beyond-the-screens/.