Utopolis – Wunschfabrik Stadt

International symposium in Chemnitz

June 20th - June 22nd, 2008

International Symposium: June 20th - 22nd, 2008 in Chemnitz, Organised by the producers gallery WELTECHO-Oscar e.V., the Technical University Chemnitz and the Bauhaus University Weimar

PATRON

Barbara Ludwig, Mayor of Chemnitz

CONCEPT

1. UTOPIA.

- The symposium »Utopolis« is an attempt to investigate the different concepts of city and utopia that have been put forth by different individuals of different cultures in the past. Moreover, we will address the very question in contemporary times as well. Utopia and the concept thereof will not be discussed in the shape of some abstract, remote reality. On the contrary, the symposium is aiming at uncovering specific visions and desires which arose out of social tensions and contradictions.

2. PUBLIC SPHERE.

- The central interest lies in the question if it is possible to uncover such visions, which create a reality of their own within reality, in the habitat city. The notion of a public sphere of a city comes in here. This notion is defined as being more than the sum of a city's buildings or the sum of a city's inhabitants. What ist the relationship between utopia and urbania? It is an 'utopolitical' question, which revolves around the individual's influence on the processes of change. How can people enter the public sphere and thereby change the urban area? Can this entry into a public sphere be enhanced in any way? How can people contribute in a discoursive and/or affective way? In addition to the mass media, cities are the only place in society, where a public sphere can arise in the first place.

3. UTOPOLIS.

- A key role for the formation of a public sphere of a city can be seen in urban planning, architecture and creative arts. The symposium will investigate these three topics in order to find out if these fields are pursued in a mere functional sense or if they are pursued in order to realise some form of futuristic vision, a hope for a better life. The syposium will be threepart. The first session, UTOPOLOGIE will offer a chance of discussion to philosophers, theoreticians of cultural studies, but also city planner and architects about the cultural entanglement between utopia and urbania. A second part entitled KUNST UND DIE UTOPIE GESELLSCHAFTLICHER PRYXIS will address the influence of creative arts. Artists, as the protagonists of the cultural scene, will have the chance to discuss (and to present their ideas on) the role of creative arts in this process of transformation of the public sphere. A third part CHEMNITZER LAGEBESPRECHUNG will address the potentials and possibilities of the specific situation in Chemnitz and comparable cities, especially in Eastern Europe.

PROGRAMME OF THE CONFERENCE

FRIDAY, JUNE 20TH, 2008

VENUE

Stadtbad Chemnitz (City Indoor Swimming Pool), Mühlenstraße 27

6.00 PM

Welcome Address: Ulf Kallscheidt, Chairman of Oscar e.V.
Introduction and Chair: Volkmar Billig, Curator »TransAction - Sculptures of Transition«

6.45 PM

»Museum der Transformation« (Museum of Transformation) - Performance by Roman Dziadkiewicz, Artist, Krakow (PL) ["The issue is the multidimensional combination of performative aspects, visual arts, poetry and theoretical knowledge. Museum of Transformation as a real proposal for Chemnitz is the core of the discussion." - R.D.]

VENUE

Kulturzentrum Weltecho (Cultural Center Weltecho), Annaberger Straße 24

10.00 PM

Italo Calvino - Invisible Cities, Reading (Italian-German) with WolfrAM Ette, Comparative Literature, Chemnitz

SATURDAY, JUNE 21ST, 2008

PART I: U-TOPOLOGIE

VENUE

Stadtbad Chemnitz (City Indoor Swimming Pool), Mühlenstraße 27
9.00 AM Welcome Address: Prof. Dr. Cecile Sandten, English Literature/
Cultural Studies, Technical University of Chemnitz
Introduction and Presentation: WolfrAM Ette, Comparative Literature,
Chemnitz

9.15 AM

Eduard Führ, Theory of Architecture, Cottbus: Die Ubiquität der Utopie (The Ubiquity of Utopolis)

9.45 AM

Olaf Briese, Scholar of Cultural Studies, Berlin: Konservative Utopiker: Mauern als Stadtdominanten von Platon bis zur Moderne (Conservative Utopians: Walls as dominants in cities from Plato to Modernity)

10.15 AM

Matthias Korn, Comparative Literature, Berlin: Von Utopien nach Heterotopia. Wie wir werden, was wir sind (From Utopias to Heterotopia. How we become what we are)

10.45 AM

Boris Buden, Cultural Studies, Berlin: Utopie der Erinnerung (Utopia of the Memory)

11.30 AM

Discussion

12.30 PM - 2.00 PM

Lunch Break

2.00 PM

Cecile Sandten, English Literature/ Cultural Studies, Chemnitz: »Maximum City« - Postcolonialismus in Bombay (»Maximum City«: Postcolonialism in Bombay/Mumbai)

2.30 PM

Juang Du, Xian/ China: China's Utopias in its Urban Developement

3.00 PM

Silke Roesler, Media Studies, Regensburg: Stadtraum - Kartenraum - Medienraum, Imaginäre Geographien AM Beispiel New Yorks (City Scape- Map Scape- Media Scape, Imaginary Geographies of New York)

3.30 PM

Joachim Kreysler, Epidemiology, Genf: Global Health Challenges as Consequence of Global Acceleration: an Outlook in 2008.

4.00 PM

Discussion

PART II: THE ARTS AND UTOPIA IN SOCIETAL PRACTICE

VENUE

Weltecho, Annaberger Straße 24

7.00 PM - 9.00 PM

Round Table Discussion:
Kerstin Hensel, Writer, Berlin
Georg Klein, Sound Artist, Berlin
Enrico Lübbe, Drama Director, Chemnitz
Olaf Nicolai, Artist, Berlin
Thomas Heise, Film Maker, Berlin
Afterwards Discussion

9.00 PM

KLANGWERK-Konzert Nr. XXXV

MINIATUREN
Choreographie und Einstudierung: Lode Devos Tänzer/innen des Ballettensembles der Oper Chemnitz
Musik: John Cage, Johann Sebastian Bach
Klavier: Tom Bitterlich

10.00 PM

Film Programme to the Issue:
Enrico Ghezzi (Italy), Cinematic Interview with Paul Virilio, 2006
Thomas Heise (Germany), Eisenzeit (Iron Age), 1991
Olaf Nicolai (Germany), Rodakis, 2008
Ricardo Pons (Argentina), Sudtopía, 2000/ Ciudad Anarquista Americana, 2005

SUNDAY, JUNE 22ND, 2008

9.00 AM

am Guided Tour (with Alexander Bergmann and Thomas Morgenstern)

VENUE

Opera, Theaterplatz

11.00 AM

Public Matinée: Celia Guevara, Architecture and Research of
Utopia, Buenos Aires/ Argentinien: „Industrie – Utopie“ (Industry - Utopia)

PART III: FOCUS: CHEMNITZ

VENUE

Stadtbad, Mühlenstraße 27

11.00 AM

1.00 pm Welcome Address

Introduction and Chair: Alexander Bergmann, Urbanist, Bauhaus-University
Weimar

1.15 PM

Gabi Dolff-Bonekämper, Arts History, Berlin: Die Historisierung der Moderne oder: wie erbt man unerfüllte Glücksversprechen? (The Historicization of Modernity or: how to inherit unfulfilled promises of luck)

1.45 PM

Peter Ruge, Architect, Berlin: Die Utopie der Grenze (Utopia of Boundary)

2.15 PM

Yana Milev, Cultural Philosophy, Research of Space, Media Arts, Berlin: Emergency Design: Designstrategien in den Zonen der Anomie (Emergency Design: Strategies in Designing in Zones of Anomy)

2.45 PM

Dieter Hoffmann-Axthelm, Planning and Journalism, Berlin: Stadt ist kein Kulturprojekt. Überlebenschancen der Städte am Beispiel Chemnitz (The City is not a Cultural Project. Survival Strategies in Cities, e.g. Chemnitz)

3.30 PM

Final Discussion with participants and the Mayor of Construction of Chemnitz Petra Wesseler

VENUE

Weltecho, Annaberger Straße 24

8.00 PM

Roman Dziadkiewicz: : Under Construction oder Das Museum der Transformation In Chemnitz, Opening of the Exhibition in the Gallery

9.00 PM

Weltecho KLANGWERK Concert No. XXXV


MINIATUREN
Production: Lode Devos with Dancers of the Opera Chemnitz
Music: John Cage, Johann Sebastian Bach
Piano: Tom Bitterlich

CONTACT

wolframette@gmx.net (programme)
wakatja@hotmail.de (organisation)

ADMISSION TICKETS

38 Euro, 25 Euro (reduced), 15 Euro (student of the Technical University of Chemnitz). It is possible to visit single events; the price for the ticket may be asked there.)

HOTELS IN CHEMITZ

Chemnitzer Hof Günnewig Hotel, Theaterplatz 4, +49 371 684-0
Mercure Kongress Chemnitz, Brückenstr. 19, +49 371 683-0
Seaside Residenz Hotel, Bernsdorfer Str. 2, +49 371 3551-0, info@residenzhotelchemnitz.de
Amber Hotel, Wildparkstr. 6, 09247 Chemnitz, +49 3722 5130, chemnitz@amber-hotels.de
Hotel an der Oper, Straße der Nationen 56, +49 371 681-0