kopf kino by on/off projects actions of passersby on facades

‘kopf kino’ projects the actions of passersby by 10x onto the façades of surrounding buildings

‘kopf kino’ is an amplification object left in public spaces to be negotiated and appropriated by city dwellers. developed by berlin-based artist collective ‘on/off‘, the device itself is constructed from a modified shopping cart filled with borrowed car batteries, a projector and computer held in place with cable ties, all of these internal components masked by a monolithic cardboard skin.

the machine transforms people into urban performers

devised as something to be wheeled around a city, the installation is left without any instruction in various locations, inviting passersby to investigate the inner workings and actual function of ‘kopf kino’. the element that sparks some curiosity is the small camera lens which projects out of the top of the machine, in which people gravitate towards, looking in to see if they are able to find some kind of indication of what it actually does. as they interact with it, they realize that their actions are being amplified 10x, enlarged onto the façades of surrounding buildings, turning ‘kopf kino’ into a kind of ‘adhoc’ stage, allowing groups to temporarily take over public space, transforming them into urban performers without the restrictions of prescribed interactions.

the first iteration of this experimental project took place in berlin over the course of two months. it has now migrated to turkey as part of the istanbul design biennial within the ‘adhocracy’ exhibition curated by joseph grima, where it takes to the streets capturing the behaviours of the passersby that come in contact with it within the bustling city.

setting-up the ‘kopf kino’

‘kopf-kino’ on display at the istanbul design biennial image © designboom

the device is composed of a hacked shopping cart which is filled with borrowed car batteries, a projector and computer image © designboom

diagram

‘kopf kino’ istanbul video courtesy of on/off

istanbul design biennial october 13th – december 12th, 2012

with the aim of underlining the importance of design for production, economy, cultural interaction and quality of life, the first istanbul design biennial will be realized in 2012 by istanbul foundation for culture and arts. istanbul design biennial will be open to all disciplines of the creative industries in major fields such as urban design, architecture, interior design, industrial design, graphic design, new media design and fashion design, as well as their subfields.