Vehicles of change

Bicycle activism and artistic augmented reality interventions in public space

With:
Herbert Schwaab: Media scientist at the University of Regensburg and co-editor of the book „Fahrradutopien. Medien, Ästhetiken und Aktivismus“
Tara Dirala: Member of Spicy Cycling Girls (Salzburg)
Litto /Daniela Weiss: „Artificial Museum. Aktivistisches Museumsprojekt zu Kunst im öffentlichen Raum mittels Augmented Reality“ (Wien)
„AR Communities“, research project on Augmented Reality and participation in public spaces (Salzburg)

Cycling embodies one of the central aspirations of forward-looking and socio-ecological mobility. But the bicycle is “not just a vehicle of transportation or traffic, but a vehicle of change”, argue the authors of the book “Fahrradutopien” (2002, p.8). Activist, but also artistic projects, deal with the transformative potential of cycling. Activist art makes issues visible in public space, while at the same time activists often work with artistic formats. The event brings together activists, artists and scientists whose work combines artistic approaches in the field of augmented reality and concerns for a sustainable change in public space around the topic of cycling.

We discuss a variety of questions:
How can the bicycle be used as a medium of social change? What are the real and utopian potentials of cycling in public space?
How do the projects presented combine cycling, activism and artistic practice?
Who can help shape public space and in what way?
How can utopias for a change in public space as a social space be worked on together and with relish?
What role do games such as Alleycats and augmented reality interventions play in this?

Participants are invited to discuss these and other questions in the World Café format. Concluding with drinks and snacks.

A cooperation between the Society & Sustainability program area and the AR Communities research project (funded by the State of Salzburg).