The Vienna Master of Arts in Applied Human Rights at Klima Biennale Wien 2024: An Intervention Where Creative Thinking and Action Came Together!

What can be achieved when “participation, collaboration, and awareness” (Klima Biennale Wien, 2024) come together to imagine a future on Earth that is both habitable and environmentally sustainable? For the students of the Vienna Master of Arts in Applied Human Rights and the Master of Global Challenges and Sustainable Development, the answer was showcased in six inspiring interdisciplinary group projects. These projects were presented on June 20 and 21 at the Klima Biennale Wien 2024 as part of an intervention titled “Too Serious to be Too Serious”.

The Klima Biennale Wien started on April 5 and ended on July 14, lasting 100 days and taking place at multiple locations throughout Vienna, integrating art, design, architecture, and science. Initiated by the City of Vienna’s department of Climate, Culture, and Economy, the Biennale was organized by KunstHausWien and featured more than 60 cooperation partners. Led by Sithara Pathirana and Claudius Schulze, the festival invited everyone to debate and find viable responses to the climate crisis, having in mind the principles of care and sustainability.

The intervention of our students, was developed within the framework of the courses “Cluster on Sustainability, Environment, and Human Rights” and “Cross-Disciplinary Project Work II”, through the cooperation of three departments: Vienna Master of Arts in Applied Human Rights, International Programmes in Sustainable Development, and the Angewandte Performance Lab (APL). Inspired by the report “Earth for All – A Survival Guide for Humanity”, exploring five key areas for socio-ecological transformation: poverty, inequality, women’s empowerment, food, and energy, each project highlights a critical point of view on sustainability and systems development.

With the project “Guiding Connection” the idea was an interactive guided tour at the Klima Biennale that aimed to create an emotional connection between visitors and artworks, as well as between the artworks themselves. With the stand  “It’s a Good Deal! It’s Called Overconsumption!”, we faced our naturalized actions regarding consumption habits. “Silent Boil: The Frog’s Fable” made us reflect on the effects of human activity and rising temperatures on our planet by offering the chance to wear an inflatable frog costume under the sizzling Vienna sun.

In “Playfool” we were invited to leave stress behind and rediscover the joy of spontaneous interaction and play, refreshing our perspective on our environment to transform our experiences. The “Pom Glasses” project offered a model of glasses that prompted us to critically think about how narrow our view of the world around us is. Finally, “Global Footprints: Mapping Our Perspectives” provided a large-scale world map displayed on the floor, inviting the participants to interact with it in various ways, challenging conventional views of the world and exploring concepts of home, travel, and global perspectives on climate change.

In the words of Mariana Pires Soares, one of the students of Generation 12, “My experience at the Klima Biennale in Vienna on June 20, 2024, was profoundly enriching and insightful. Being part of a collaborative team, I engaged in the intricate process of designing and executing an interactive map that challenged traditional geographical perspectives. Witnessing the map transform into a vibrant canvas filled with personal stories and artistic expressions was incredibly rewarding. The interaction with visitors, who eagerly shared their travel histories and reflections, highlighted the power of art in fostering community and critical thought. The overall experience underscored the significance of collective effort and creativity in addressing global sustainability issues”.

“Too Serious to be Too Serious” intervention is one of many examples of how the Vienna Master of Arts in Applied Human Rights highlights the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in the curriculum. Partnering with International Programmes in Sustainable Development and the Angewandte Performance Lab (APL), our change-makers had the opportunity to gain perspectives that combine theoretical knowledge with practical artistic application. The students’ projects in general reflect an awareness of the current reality of our planet and demonstrate how participation and collaboration can generate multiple questions and visions for building a better future.