Interview with Johanna Baumgart by Bettina Pelz.
Published on 23 JUN 2025.
What is the mindful encounter you head in the MEDIA ART LAB?
The session I`ll head at the MEDIA ART LAB will be a public and shared exchange about new concepts for a city based on solidarity, rather than separation or competition. Everyone passing by can join or just listen for a while.
We will explore questions such as: How do we perceive our city? Who feels comfortable in the city? Who designs our city? And who is overlooked in our cities? During the session, we`ll discuss realistic approaches to these questions, but we will also allow space for utopian dreaming and imaginative thinking.
Ultimately the session will emphasize the importance of a shared dialogue about our city bringing together different perspectives and ideas to foster a sense of community and collective vision for a city for everyone.
Can you describe your creative process for this activity, from the initial ideas to the concept and now the realization?
My creative process for this activity began with an exploration of displacement policies around Bremen’s main train station. I examined the disappearance of public benches and their replacement with less comfortable alternatives, as well as the increased police presence and stricter enforcement in this area. I was particularly interested in how public spaces are changing and who is affected by these transformations.
To deepen my understanding I spoke with people directly affected by these changes, consulted with persons who have more expertise in urban planning and city design than I do and I have talked a lot about it with my friends. Inspired by these conversations and my research,I experimented with various artistic approaches to highlight these issues and encourage critical reflection.
Beyond simply pointing out problems,I wanted to foster dialogue with others about what alternative concepts for a city open to everyone might look like.
A first step is to see and understand what affects other people in the city.
My goal is to create a space for exchange and collective imagination, where we can discuss and envision more inclusive urban futures together.
How do you create space for meaningful conversation?
Space for meaningful conversations is created by speaking to each other as equals and respecting each other. I think it’s important to have an open ear for others and to listen instead of just waiting for your own answer. Also be open to different points of view: by valuing and respecting different perspectives, everyone can share their thoughts without fear of rejection. In this way, a good and diverse exchange on important topics can take place.
To what extent does your work respond to or reflect current tensions, conflicts, or crises?
It deals with current challenges in urban development and the design of urban spaces. As urbanisation progresses, more and more people are living in cities – a trend that is shaping society as a whole. At the same time, however, urban space is increasingly being designed less according to the needs of residents and more according to the interests and ideas of large consumer companies and the economy. This leads to tensions and conflicts, for example when public spaces are commercialised or certain population groups are excluded/displaced.
These conflicts are not only played out locally but also internationally at a wide variety of levels. For example, the protests in Spain against mass tourism and the associated displacement of residents from the cities.