---
type: entity
title: Public Art Seminar
tags: [seminar, urban-art, cdfi, pedagogy]
related: [rozbeh-asmani, cdfi, artistic-mediation]
created: 2026-07-13
updated: 2026-07-13
sources: ["output_cdfi/cdfi_uni_greifswald_de_bildende_kunst_aktivitaeten_publicart.md"]
---

# Public Art Seminar

The **Public Art Seminar** is a long-term academic project at the Caspar-David-Friedrich-Institut (CDFI) of the University of Greifswald, led by Professor [[rozbeh-asmani]]. Since 2020, the seminar has focused on the intersection of art, urban space, and mass communication.

## Core Philosophy
The seminar treats the city as a medium. By utilizing traditional advertising infrastructure—specifically the **Litfaßsäule** (advertising column)—the project aims to:
- **Disrupt Commercial Logic:** Replace consumer-driven advertising with art to break the "automated perception" of pedestrians.
- **Democratize Art:** Remove art from institutional "ivory towers" (museums/galleries) and place it in the daily paths of diverse social groups.
- **Bridge Theory and Practice:** Challenge students to move their work into a public forum where they face unpredictable reactions and a lack of institutional protection.

## Project Evolution
The seminar is organized into "Volumes," each typically associated with a specific location or theme:
- **Greifswald:** The primary site for multiple iterations, including the installation of an institute-owned Litfaßsäule at the University Computing Center.
- **Düsseldorf:** A major expansion (Vol. II) in collaboration with the [[khm]] (Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln).
- **Güstrow:** Site of Vol. IV, V, and IX, including a symposium at the Barlach-Stiftung.
- **caspar.reloaded:** A special 7th iteration tied to the Caspar-David-Friedrich anniversary in 2024.

## Methodology
Students engage in "Adbusting" and Urban Art techniques, creating large-format graphics that respond to personal, social, or aesthetic themes. The process often involves partnerships with commercial advertising agencies to secure legal access to public surfaces.
