In this course, the students explored how light can be used as an artistic medium, reconfiguring space and time. The goal was to develop own installations, exhibition pieces, or performances that utilized visual and optical phenomena, digital and physical peculiarities, sound and acoustics and that might be site- or context-specific. The course was realized in close collaboration with the seminar EXHIBIT, led by Bettina Pelz, in which the curatorial and organizational aspects of exhibiting light and media arts were discussed. The resulting projects were exhibited at the GOLDSTÜCKE Festival in Gelsenkirchen, the PACE Festival in Potsdam, and the SEE DJERBA Festival in Tunisia.

(selection of projects, photos by Lorenz Potthast, Jennifer Braun, Lars Gonikman, Marc Knip)

In this Master course we looked at the history of moving images in general and “Expanded Cinema”, Video Art and Experimental Animation in particular and analysed new developments and tendencies in contemporary animation. The students developed own experimental animations at the intersection of moving images, digital technology and aesthetics and found new approaches to create moving images, re-use existing methods to bring images in motion, have them driven by code or data, created under the influence of neural networks and similar technologies or even create moving apparatuses and installations. The final results were presented publicly at the Open Space stage at the city centre of Bremen.

(selection of projects)

In this Bachelor course we looked into the omni-presence of digital screens, as one of the most overlooked manifestations of digital technologies in our modern world. We analyzed their technical functionality, their materiality, the production conditions and the social implications of today’s screens and through discussions and readings. Later, the students developed individual projects, ranging from animations, spatial installations to experimental interfaces. The final results were presented in an exhibition, which was curated, organized and realized by the students.

(selection of projects, photos by Klaas Jannis Klee)

On the occasion of the 100th birthday of the composer, architect and multimedia artist Iannis Xenakis, students of the University of Arts Bremen developed an site-specific audiovisual installation for the opening of the new university building SpeicherXIa. In two previous courses (taught by Prof. Kilian Schwoon and Prof. Dennis Paul) students of both faculties have studied his Polytope de Cluny (1972), an early milestone of immersive digital media art. In my course called “Audiovisual Performance” the concepts were merged into an audiovisual experience and that was realized with a 32 speaker surround sound setup, 8 Moving heads and 12 custom build motorized mirrors, 4 large scale projectors and controllable LED tubes.

More Information: https://polytope-xia.hfk-bremen.de/
Project Documentation: https://xenorama.com/portfolio/polytope-xia/
(Photos by Lorenz Potthast and Lukas Klose)

Every Winter Semester since 2021 I teach an first semester introductory course about audiovisual design and the underlaying concepts and techniques. After an overview of different topics and skill inputs, the students develop their first own project, ranging from classical 2D-Animations over 3D experiments to interactive installations.

(selection of projects)

I have been giving various workshops at institutions, festivals and other occasions for students or the general public. Most of these workshops focuss on topics around projections, but also topics like (3D) animation, light and event technologies or concepts and techniques for media design and media art.

Workshop “VJing and Light Controls” at Open Space Domshof, 2023 & 2024

Workshop “Facade Projections” at Lichtcampus Wismar - 2019

Workshop “Raumprojektionen” at FH Potsdam - 2019

Workshop “Facade Projections and VJing” together with ElektroMoonVision at ISEA 2018 Durban, South Africa

Workshop “Projection Mapping” at Lichter der City Festival - 2023

Workshop “3D Scanning and Animation” at INTERFERENCE Festival Tunis, Tunisia - 2017

Workshop “Projection Mapping” at HAWK Hildesheim - 2017

Workshop “360° Projections” at WeDigIt Festival 2024

From 2019 until 2022 I have been the coordinator of the Digital Impact Lab and since then still work there as Digital Trainer. The Digital Impact Lab is an experimental space of learning at the intersection of digital, cultural and social development. We want to initiate changes and focus on digitally based, participative activities and workshops. Over the years I have developed and conducted several workshops on topics like 3D Animation, 3D Printing, LEGO Robots, micro:bits, media literacy, Virtual Reality and many more.

In December 2015 I was part of a group of students and people working at the HfK, that started organizing movie evenings to get in contact with refugees from the neighbouring accomodations. In 2018 I started coordinating the project through a lectureship in the Integrated Design, in which we organized various projects and activities, reaching from art and creative workshops with young adults from refugee accomodations and the neighbourhood. In 2020 we started co-designing the temporary use of a empty building area, developing it into an meeting point for the neighboorhood together with various cultural and social partners.

Impressions from a silk screen T-Shirt workshop with students and refugees

Workshops with students and residents for re-designing the Überseewiese

Interior designs by students for the rooms of the Überseewiese