In the heart of the city, design students from Fachhochschule Dortmund creatively addressed social problems: In a shop window at Kampstraße 24, they addressed racism and discrimination with quote boards, individually highlighted words and sculptures - and even interactively.
The installation was created by the collective "unterdrei" - Marie Schönenborn, Lynn Lipka and Mariele Key, who are studying object and spatial design(Opens in a new tab) at the FH. Their contribution was part of the "Light on!" project series. In addition to the Faculty of Design, the city of Dortmund's Coordination Office for Diversity, Tolerance and Democracy, the "Back Up - Come back" association and the city's Creative Neighborhoods staff unit are also involved. The common goal is to set an example in public space against discrimination and all forms of group-related misanthropy in society. The aim is to develop new creative approaches to the topic.
Individual words from conversations as a basis
The exhibition was preceded by extensive and intensive discussions with two people who are victims of discrimination in Dortmund. Individual words from the anonymously summarized text material were then used to design the work: the students reflected on and interpreted the words, including hate, confinement, disappointment - and "translated" them artistically into sculptures. These were staged in the shop window in combination with the text material. A light circuit illuminated the words and the corresponding sculpture in repetition mode. Viewers also had the opportunity to select the words themselves using a control on the shop window.