Institute of Digital Communication Environments
Dauerhafte URI für die Sammlunghttps://irf.fhnw.ch/handle/11654/13
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Ergebnisse nach Hochschule und Institut
Publikation In between moments of emptiness in the urban transformation process. Zwischenmomente der Leere im städtischen Transformationsprozess(Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst Basel FHNW, 2023) Steiner, Franziska; Ahn, Jinsu; Käser, Susanne; Savic, SelenaEmpty industrial sites are frequent occurrences due to structural changes of cities. The areas and buildings left behind, initially inaccessible to the public, provide cities with new spaces. These play an important role for a future-oriented, progressive urban planning. During long processes the areas are transformed into residential, cultural or new commercial spaces. Through opening the area for the public, stories and knowledge about former uses of the industrial site disappear. Urban changes become difficult to comprehend if the process is not properly documented. As cities are in a constant flux and people adapt to new environments very quickly, it is often forgotten how it had felt or looked before. This raises the question of how urban changes can be documented, made visible and perceptible. In Basel, too, there are numerous ongoing ideas and projects for the conversion of former industrial and commercial areas. As an example of a transformation process that is still in its infancy, this master’s thesis is focused on the disused factory site "Franck-Areal" in Basel. Its emptiness offers to be explored and creates new spaces of possibilities. Inspired by the techniques of photoethnography and visual anthropology, the area is explored and documented over a period of five months. The research is mainly done through participative observation with the use of the medium photography and is used as a tool for "data collection". By looking through the camera, a different view of the environment is experienced. Through the process of photography, moments are illuminated that are only perceived through the view of the camera. Through the resulting images, moments are highlighted that will disappear with the transformation. These moments refer not only to the visually perceived, but also to a holistic, physical experience of space that is incorporated during this work. During the process of taking photographs, it is not only the sense of sight that is focused on the surroundings, but also the presence of the whole body in the space. In addition to the photographs, further material is produced during the five-month "field research". After visiting the site, personal impressions and experiences and notes from conversations are written down. A further exploration of the ‘empty space’ are the photographs and pictures from old books and archives. They contribute to overcome the physical and mental inaccessibility of the area. As a second part the images that have been created and collected are subsequently ordered, analysed and evaluated with reference to ethnographic methods. This leads to categories that indicate the symbolism of the images. They also reveal the photographer’s perspective and point of view. These indicate which motifs were perceived as important during the research. For example, they show the importance and symbolism of doors which played an essential role during the work. The resulting material is processed into a physical publication that allows the viewer to experience the place. Linked to the personal experiences during the research period, the readers go through a small section of the transformation process, from an untouchable to a space of possibility.11 - Studentische ArbeitPublikation Tomorrow’s breakfast(Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst Basel FHNW, 2023) Semenova, YevheniiaThe idea of daily life photography and the role it plays in capturing the hope of people and their daily routine during times of war. I am struck by the resilience of those who endure, day after day, with unwavering faith in the promise of tomorrow. How do they carry on in the face of such hardship? How do they maintain a sense of hope and purpose, sustained by the simple routines of everyday life?This diploma project examines the use of food as a metaphor for hope and resilience in Ukrainian lifestyle photography, with a particular focus on the topic of impermanence in the context of ongoing war and uncertainty. Working on my own photographic series from Ukraine, I argue that the act of imagining and discussing one’s breakfast for the following day serves as a powerful symbolic gesture of optimism and perseverance in the face of adversity.11 - Studentische ArbeitPublikation Redefining home. A documentary exploration of the feeling of home(Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst Basel FHNW, 2023) Mosimann, Marie-Cathrine; Reymond, Claire; Oplatek, Jiri; Zeller, LudwigHome – a topic that resonates with almost everyone at some point, and one that has always been a unifying force. Exploring the concept of home from various perspectives makes it more comprehensible and, ideally, fosters a more empathetic approach to one another. Home holds great significance, playing a vital role in our everyday lives and our overall well-being. However, the understanding of one’s own relationship with and to home is as unique as the individuals themselves. This master’s thesis endeavours to grasp the individual notions of home, tries to redefine it, and presents it in a different light, particularly from a perspective where individuals are not afforded the freedom to choose their living and life circumstances. The driving research question becomes: “How can the personal understanding of ‘home’ be redefined and visually communicated through a participatory process, when the housing and living conditions were not entirely self-determined?” To address this query, in-depth interviews were conducted with five individuals, acting as key participants. Additionally, through a collaborative and participatory approach, visual motifs were carefully selected within their respective homes, extensively discussed, and captured in a documentary way through the lens of a camera. The culmination of the audio interviews and intimate photographs converged to form a final video. The outcome of the project shows that this intensive collaboration in the participatory process significantly influences the final product. The lack of full autonomy in decision-making regarding their housing and living situation becomes apparent and permeates the final product with increased visibility, audibility, and tangibility. The participants’ stories and experiences show the complexity and impact of constrained living circumstances on their understanding of home. Given that a complete redefinition of the individual’s understanding of home could not be achieved within the scope of this study, it is in need of more extensive exploration. Nonetheless, this personal and intense experience has laid the foundation for further discoveries, inviting further research and dialogue on the multifaceted nature of home and the lived experiences of those affected by housing constraints. The thesis is motivated by the intention to address supposedly unimportant issues and to focus on individual feelings, sentiments, and sensitivities. It deals with aspects of identity, belonging, personal misfortunes, successes, and challenges. As we continue to delve into the diverse perspectives on home, we expand our empathy and understanding, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate society. By giving voice to those whose stories have often been overlooked, this research strives to bridge the gap between personal experiences and broader social narratives, prompting reflection and action towards creating a world where everyone can truly feel at home.11 - Studentische ArbeitPublikation Humor beyond language. An image-based inquiry focused on the medium of photography and video(Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst Basel FHNW, 2023) Göttle, Vanessa; Eisenmann, Leander; Renner, Michael; Schubbach, Arno“Why is that funny?” This seemingly banal question is often particularly difficult to answer and most probably spoils the fun. Nevertheless, this thesis project is an earnest inquiry into the question of what humor is and has thus to risk a balancing act: between boredom and provocation, between ironic distance and the own position. Humor in a theoretical context is often treated exclusively based on language. In consequence its unique forms and means of expression through images are not considered. Therefore, this investigation asks: How can humor be conveyed through images? The exploration took shape in a hands-on experimental approach as well as the collection and analysis of existing media from a professional and amateur context. Through making and collecting, a deeper understanding developed. However, the answer to the question posed did not lead to a formulated definition or set of fixed rules, but finds expression in a series of found images organized into eight categories, mostly based on incongruity: exaggeration, context, unexpected use, formal similarities, giving life to objects, shifting focus, mistakes, amateur. Thus, a first practical output is a publication that contains the arranged examples, accompanied by a selection of the photographic experiments conducted. Through maintaining the categories as order-giving instance, the intention is to reveal a subjective comprehension and invite the viewer to explore her own understanding through comparison and rearranging. The second part of the practical output is a video installation, which embraces the aesthetic of the everyday and consists of several video sequences and sounds next to and overlapping each other. Other than the former, there is a topic next to the frame of humor underlying the concept: The visualizations of work referring to household and care derive from the statistics that globally 75% of unpaid work is done by women. Each clip is based on the idea of twisting everyday tasks to absurdity. An example is vacuuming in the park, which additionally moves the task from the private living situation to a public space. Therefore, the invisible work becomes visible. The use of everyday aesthetics in the produced results is a conscious renunciation of perfect staging and a celebration of the ordinary that already inherits absurdity and reflects upon our social and cultural environment. Exploring humor through images might change one’s perspective on given humor theories and for sure sharpens the eye to diversions and fresh prospects. After all, to give an image a humorous connotation requires an unexpected twist, and nothing is as damaging to surprise as habit and repetition. Since we want to exclude stereotypical representations, this must be achieved through creativity and invention. Finally, humor allows us to not only endure imperfections and mistakes, but to celebrate them – a fantastic starting point for diving deeper into image making.11 - Studentische Arbeit