Kunst Im Kontext II |Digitale Kommunikations- u. Medienwelten Mz* Baltazar’s Lab
Lale Rodgarkia-Dara
Institute of Studies in Art and Art Education,
Art and Communication Practices
2026W,
Artistic Seminar
(SEK),
6.0 ECTS,
7.0 semester hours,
course number S51416
Description
Theory, practice, and the curatorial and artistic design of an exhibition
This semester, we will focus on critical (media) art production on three levels: theory, field trip and art production.
The course begins with a group field trip; if possible, this will include an overnight stay. The aim is to facilitate an engagement with theory in a relaxed atmosphere whilst simultaneously laying the foundations for collective action.
To encourage a critical reading and reflection on the literature and art production – a central component of the course – individual projects will be agreed upon. These will be presented and shared collectively, with the format to be chosen freely.
The practical component involves creating one’s own (transmedia) artwork relating to the course content. The works will be presented as part of a joint exhibition at the end of the semester at Mz Baltazar’s Laboratory* (Jägerstraße 52–54, 1200 Vienna). The artworks may also be created explicitly as part of a collective.
Theory- and reading list: Readings and discussions of texts by bell hooks, Paulo Freire, Agnes Heller’s "Everyday Life", Arundhati Roy’s "Azadi: Fascism, Fiction & Freedom in the Time of the Virus", Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Darren J. Ranco and Fredric Jameson, amongst others, as well as anthologies by, amongst others, netzforma* e.V. “Wenn KI, dann feministisch” The texts can and should be supplemented by students’ own writings and suggestions.
Mz* Baltazar’s Laboratory, founded in 2009 and based in Vienna, defines itself as an art, feminist* hacking and safe space; a constantly evolving collective of currently five artists, activists and theorists who have set themselves the goal of creating a safe, subversive creative infrastructure for making/hacking, community building/networking and the realisation/support of exhibitions and workshops at the intersection of media art, science, hacking/making and gender politics at Mz* Baltazar’s Laboratory in Vienna’s 20th district.
The course "Kunst im Kontext II | Digitale Kommunikations- und Medienwelten Mz* Baltazar’s Laboratory" is taught collectively. This semester, Lale Rodgarkia-Dara and Sarah George Wilhelmy will lead the first part of the course. Anna Watzinger and Olivia Jaques are responsible for the exhibition concept, as well as its joint design and set-up. The collective currently consists of Evamaria Müller and Erika Farina, as well as the individuals mentioned above.
Examination Modalities
Active participation in all three components of the course is essential, as the assessment method is hybrid in nature and the components – Artistic Research (the interplay of research, theory and art), Theory Presentation and Exhibition Design – are of equal importance.
The course therefore has an inherent assessment component.
Comments
The dates and venue for the excursion will be decided jointly. The date given is a suggestion.
Key Words
Media art, feminism, critical art practice, social art, collectives, Medienkunst, Feminismus, kritische Kunstproduktion, soziale Kunst, Kollektive
Dates
Mon, 12 October 2026, 13:00–16:00
Mon, 19 October 2026, 13:00–16:00
Sun, 01 November 2026, 09:00–Mon, 02 November 2026, 19:00, "Suggested Day for Field Trip"
Mon, 09 November 2026, 13:00–16:00
Mon, 23 November 2026, 13:00–16:00
Mon, 30 November 2026, 13:00–16:00
Mon, 07 December 2026, 13:00–16:00
Mon, 14 December 2026, 13:00–16:00
Mon, 21 December 2026, 13:00–16:00, "Preparations for the exhibition at Mz* Baltazar’s Laboratory, Jägerstraße 52–54, 1200 Vienna"
Mon, 11 January 2027, 13:00–16:00, "Preparations for the exhibition at Mz* Baltazar’s Laboratory, Jägerstraße 52–54, 1200 Vienna"
Mon, 18 January 2027, 13:00–16:00, "Preparations for the exhibition at Mz* Baltazar’s Laboratory, Jägerstraße 52–54, 1200 Vienna"
Fri, 22 January 2027, 13:00–16:00, "Opening exhibition at Mz* Baltazar’s Laboratory, Jägerstraße 52–54, 1200 Vienna"
Fri, 29 January 2027, 16:00–19:00, " „Ausstellungsende Mz* Baltazar's Laboratory, Jägerstraße 52-54, 1200 Wien“ "
Course Enrolment
From 31 August 2026, 09:00
Via online registration
Curriculum Allocation
Art Education: study subject kkp (Bachelor): Artistic Practice (kkp): GO: Art in Context II (kkp) 034/2026UBA-001.14
Art Education: study subject kkp (Bachelor): Artistic Practice (kkp): FOR: Artistic Project Work (kkp) 034/2026UBA-001.20
Art Education: study subject kkp (Bachelor): Focus: Digital Basic Education (DGB): Practice / Digital Production 034/2026UBA-020.10
Art Education: study subject kkp (Bachelor): Further Focus Areas (Pool): Focus: New Media 034/2026UBA-030.03
Art Education: study subject kkp (Bachelor): Further Focus Areas (Pool): Focus: Art and Cultural Mediation 034/2026UBA-030.06
Art Education: study subject kkp (Bachelor): Further Focus Areas (Pool): Focus: Inter- and Transdisciplinary Practices 034/2026UBA-030.08
Art Education: study subject kkp (Bachelor): Further Focus Areas (Pool): Focus: Media Pedagogy 034/2026UBA-030.20
Art Education: subject kkp (Enhancements study): Artistic Practice (kkp): GO: Art in Context II (kkp) 034/2026UEW-001.14
Art Education: subject kkp (Enhancements study): Artistic Practice (kkp): FOR: Artistic Project Work (kkp) 034/2026UEW-001.20
Art Education: study subject dex (Bachelor): Focus: Digital Basic Education (DGB): Practice / Digital Production 037/2026UBA-020.10
Art Education: study subject dex (Bachelor): Further Focus Areas (Pool): Focus: New Media 037/2026UBA-030.03
Art Education: study subject dex (Bachelor): Further Focus Areas (Pool): Focus: Art and Cultural Mediation 037/2026UBA-030.06
Art Education: study subject dex (Bachelor): Further Focus Areas (Pool): Focus: Inter- and Transdisciplinary Practices 037/2026UBA-030.08
Art Education: study subject dex (Bachelor): Further Focus Areas (Pool): Focus: Media Pedagogy 037/2026UBA-030.20
Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): Künstlerische Praxis (kkp): GO: Grundlegende Technologien / Praxen (kkp) 067/2016UBA-001.11
Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): Schwerpunkt Digitale Grundbildung (DGB): Praxis / digitale Produktion 067/2016UBA-020.10
Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): Weitere Schwerpunkte: Neue Medien / Medienpädagogik 067/2016UBA-030.03
Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): Weitere Schwerpunkte: Kunst- und Kulturvermittlung 067/2016UBA-030.06
Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): Weitere Schwerpunkte: Inter- und transdisziplinäre Praxen 067/2016UBA-030.08
Art Education: subject kkp (Enhancements study): Künstlerische Praxis (kkp): GO: Grundlegende Technologien / Praxen (kkp) 067/2018UEW-001.11
Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): Schwerpunkt Digitale Grundbildung (DGB): Praxis / digitale Produktion 074/2017UBA-020.10
Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): Weitere Schwerpunkte: Neue Medien / Medienpädagogik 074/2017UBA-030.03
Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): Weitere Schwerpunkte: Kunst- und Kulturvermittlung 074/2017UBA-030.06
Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): Weitere Schwerpunkte: Inter- und transdisziplinäre Praxen 074/2017UBA-030.08
Co-registration: not possible
Attending individual courses: not possible