Robert Köpke, graduate from HFBK Hamburg and HGB Leipzig with a Master's degree in Curatorial Practice, currently works at the intersection of curation, design, and art. As a Research Associate at Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, he specializes in visualizing biodiversity data through mapping.
His work integrates art, design, and social engagement, emphasizing the significance of public spaces. Actively engaged in community-driven initiatives, he focuses on sustainability and collaborative design approaches. His contributions to projects such as the Floating University in Berlin and R-Urban in Paris highlight his talent for intertwining urban and ecological elements in his curatorial practice. Dedicated to reimagining social frameworks, Robert crafts participatory experiences that resonate with a broad and diverse audience.
- “Shadow Play - on lemons, Mikropol and being invisible” was a group exhibition to investigate possible future developments of the Micropol and the neighborhood.
- First we approached the area with the help of several dérives. We "structured" these dérives through our personal belongings in the city, in life concepts and our skills (under the aspects “spatial”, “contextual” and “relational”). In this way, we were able to free ourselves from the usual patterns of thinking and get an unbiased view on Rothenburgsort. On the basis of the dérives we designed various mini-scenarios that could happen around the Mikropol in the future. Topics and questions such as “What stories are told?”, the question of “cultural appropriation”, “gentrification struggles” and “How do I become visible?”, but also “How do I remain invisible?” appeared in the scenarios.
- The scenarios designed in the collective were formulated and form the basis of the exhibition. We tell the stories of the shadow of the Elbtower, dancing lemons, a fenced micropol, children performing themselves and blind spots.
Location: Hamburg, Rothenburgsort
Collaboration: Freies Design class – HFBK Hamburg & Jeanne van Heeswijk; Mikropol
Photography: Freies Design class
Date: October 2018 - February 2019