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Background to the project

In big cities, we are often anonymous, strangers to each other. We imagine fragments of other people’s lives – or, in some cases, we don’t even notice them at all. Many can relate to that feeling of seeing someone on the street or on public transport, a stranger we can’t help wondering about. We ask ourselves “What’s their story? Where are they going? How do their days look?”

At the same time there is seemingly an increasing amount of people who feel lonely and a sense of community is declining. Psychologists argue, and I would agree, we need more connection to each other. The way we are living today and a highly individualistic society is having a negative impact on our health. I see this project as a way to open our eyes to each other.

projection drawging

Urban projections

As the urban space is seeing an increasing amount of privatised areas as well as commercialised urban space, it can be difficult for other types of narratives to get noticed. To me it is important for stories and images regarding different types of lives, people and destinies to be heard, stories that have no intention of selling anything.

By projecting moving images onto facades, pavements or other city architecture,  personal narratives are added to the many layers of exisiting stories and history of a place.

Kiez – an unofficial neighbourhood

The word Kiez is an unofficial well-known Berlin word for a smaller neighbourhood, defined by the inhabitants rather than the municipality or government.

Usually there is a positive connection to the word and to one’s Kiez and there seems to be a community feel to it. As a foreigner looking around, I see many creative and compassionate initiatives connected to different Kiez, such as communal garden spaces, Gabenzauns, notice boards, online forums etc. I am curious if and how it differs from kiez to kiez and I therefore want to do projections in different areas.

The word Licht means light in German 😉

female assembling pieces of paper

About me

I’m Joanna, a visual artist from Stockholm. I developed Kiez Licht in 2021 during the ‘Fresh Air’ residency, supported by Stiftung Berliner Leben/Urban Nation.

I work across different mediums, such as film and collage. My work is playful and reflective often stemming from philosophical questions and aiming to trigger curiosity and another, more open minded way, of looking at something.

Visit my website

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