The City as a Projection Space

Abstract

Contemporary viewers’ reception of moving image based performances is undoubtedly affected by traditional cinematic experience [which refers to a dark, sound insulated room with fixed seats and a rectangular screen]. Since the beginning of the 20th century artists have explored the artistic possibilities of the cinematic medium and attempted to re-invent its projection space. At night, the urban fabric may be used as a locus for image-based performances and thus transform into an ephemeral cinema space. The performances only survive in the viewers’ memory, as the spaces will quickly regain their previous use. This new type of “projection space” may be public (squares, parks, disused industrial buildings), private (houses, art spaces, dance clubs), or semi - private (terraces, communal gardens). Through public art, urban voids become a center of social and cultural interaction. Viewers are not fixed in their seats, as in a typical cinematic space. They are dispersed and interact visually, being fully aware of each other’s presence. The artwork itself may be interactive, in an attempt to increase the viewer’s engagement. The accessibility of a public space is a paramount concern, as it broadens the number of people who can participate. This paper will explore, through a series of case studies, the effect of image-based events in changing people’s familiar relations with urban space, focusing on the role of new media technology in facilitating common experiences and encouraging people to express themselves in a public context.