“Urban Realities" A Photobooth Action celebrating cultural diversity

With the Photoboth Action “Urban Realities“ that took place in July, we wanted to invite and connect people in the city. We wanted to show how art can help to start conversations and to make people identify with the city of Pforzheim, a city with a great creative potential and a big diversity on the one hand and with a complicated history and with many contradictions on the other hand. This is why we asked people to show us their “Urban Reality“ and to share their story. The pictures were pasted on the walls of EMMA creative Center, a former art nouveau swimming pool that is nowadays offering offices, coworking spaces, workshops and exhibition rooms and on the walls of A.K.T; an art space that is the remaining staircase of a former school. Both buildings are listed, which presented us with a number of challenges during preparation. 

Installation image, photographed by Richard Rotfuss, July 2024

At the last minute, we also received permission to paste the floor of the old indoor swimming pool at EMMA, which is unfortunately not open to the public. Thanks to the Inside Out Project, we are able to activate the hall, at least temporarily, and take small groups of visitors to this place that many people in Pforzheim associate with memories.

Pool at EMMA, photographed by Valentin Crépain, July 2024 

During the Inside Out Photobooth Action, the Pforzheim neighborhood festival took place, with music, food, drinks, two exhibitions at EMMA (Designers in Residence) and A.K.T; (Parad “Eyes“ Fractal Odyssey) and a program for children. The faculty of design was also open to the public with the students’ semester show. On the EMMA rooftop, the event summer of cultures invited people to listen to music from different cultures. All this together created a great atmosphere, and through the Inside Out Project, lots of people were attracted to stop, have their picture taken and watch it being pasted on the walls. In total, more than 600 people took part during the three days.

Photo of the Inside Out truck, photographed by Valentin Crépain, July 2024

Some inhabitants from the neighborhood told us that they have seen the Action from their windows and came down to also be a part of that artwork, other participants followed the Inside Out Project for a long time already and were very happy to finally take part in it in Pforzheim. Parents who picked up their children from the nearby kindergarten had their photos taken together as well as curious strollers, students and professors from Pforzheim University and creative professionals. In the end, we created a big mosaic representing the great diversity of the city, a mix of familiar faces and new acquaintances. We often heard from the participants that they are very happy about this project coming to Pforzheim, as it draws a different picture of the city and creates a very positive atmosphere, especially during times when living together is becoming increasingly difficult. 

Visitor, photographed by Valentin Crépain, July 2024

Besides from all the people from different communities that we were able to reach and to integrate with the Inside Out Project, very beautiful connections arose between the artists of our exhibition at our art space A.K.T; a group of visual artists and breakdancers from France, the Inside Out team, the summer of cultures team and the local community around EMMA and A.K.T; 

Click here to see more from this Action and listen to participant testimonies!