Workshop Hfg Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
Avril 2016
The basic definition of « systems thinking » is the process of understanding how things which may be regarded as systems influence one another within a complete entity, or larger system. Social systems in general refer to entities or groups in definite relation to each other, to relatively enduring patterns of behavior and relationship within social systems, or to social institutions and norms becoming embedded into social systems in such a way that they shape the behavior of actors within those social systems. We could consider the human body as a social element of the society and the society as a space of cohabitation of different bodies.
This could be valid in a intime private space as well as in a larger collective public dimension, such a city, country or a continent and institutions organizing or leading the collectivity. Taking this approach to the design of micro-environments, the workshop propsed us to choose a space in the school as a microcosme of a social space much larger (the city, the country, Europe…) and to think of a social system as a mirror of the world outside with the same political complexity. The goal would be to identify the complexity of the environment in which each one expresses himself and in which every project is involved.
Max Deibler KG4, Antonia Groesschen KG3, Debora Kroneisen KG3, Anna Rathgeb KG3
Now-a-days it is difficult to express creativity and our opinion freely in public urban spaces. At the HfG it is not allowed to put pictures on the walls without permission. To give a space for free expression we spun strings through the stairways as an installation where students can hang up words, drawings or opinions. Words on the cards give an idea what to write or paint, but it is also allowed to hang up whatever you want. The cards offer an artistic freedom. The more students take part, the more colorful the installation becomes.
Julia Hess KG3, Ines Masanti KG6 Erasmus, Lara Weller PG4
We decided to put frames on things people should notice or appreciate more. Art is usually appreciated and noticed but everyday life is not. Still there is art everywhere around us. We framed everyday life to make people look at it in the same way than you would look at art and to change your perspective. To notice the small beautiful things in life.
Ruth Gardiner KG7 Erasmus, Stühle Lukas KG3, Simon Lutter IG2
Our idea was to highlight the annoyance of people leaving their dirty cups around school. So we decided to collect these cups, and create a more physical disturbance for the students. We created an obstacle from the cups on the stairs and in front of the machine, forcing people to jump over, or step through the cups. It was entertaining to see just how much people wanted their coffee, and whether they were bothered about the dirty cups or not.
Nora Friedrich KG3, Sophia Grote KG3, Felix Lang PG4, Franziska Utz KG3
We wanted to create a place in the middle of the school, where the students can meet each other and create a space of being together. We think music or sounds bring people together and help to overcome the boundaries of human communication. The typical "activating" sounds from our everyday HfG lives, are a metaphor for then activating people.
Lorenzo Bigatti KG6 Erasmus, Constantin Casper IG2, Felix Cordes PG2, Robert Straubmüller KG2
Stepchat is a project that brings people together. Six chairs are placed on the stairs in the courtyard by cutting the legs to different lengths. You can't use them in another position, so you have to sit together. The students start to communicate and interact with each other by the special positioning which connects two groups of people by the central point in the center. This is represented by the green lines on the chairs, visualising the connection between them.
Franziska Fink KG2, Lydia Moessner IG2, Stefan Ried IG4, Jule Trescher KG3
Every toothpick in our installation has its special part of the whole. This is similar in society. If you take a step back you see the whole picture, but if you take a closer look you realize that the whole picture is created by many individuals.
2015
Create your map of Tallinn Imagine you would like to show and introduce Tallinn to your family or friends. This city you have discovered bit by bit and you’re still discovering, what places, buildings, roads or moments would you like to share? What story would you like to tell? How to create a map of the town as you see and live it, how can you communicate what you appreciate? How can you imagine a map differently?