A river makes a city alive and brings culture — so is Yangtze river to Wuhan and Spree to Berlin. A film by Tian Gao and De Santis.
The CITYMAKERS Virtual Walks Project investigates fundamental themes of life in cities and on the countryside that are as relevant for people living in China as for those living in Berlin or any other European city.
The notion of “walk” could be interpreted and extended differently by each one of us. Outdoor urban walking is an opportunity not only to ask what the immediate impact of the coronavirus pandemic on urban and social space is, but also more substantially: What dysfunctions, blind spots and paradoxes does it bring to the surface?
In May 2020, queer filmmaker Popo Fan got invited to kick-off the first in the series of CITYMAKERS- Virtual Walking in Berlin to share his personal “Berlin walk” collaborating with CITYMAKERS-own Silvan Hagenbrock, urbanist and editor. The kick-off was created in cooperation between the programs CITYMAKERS and the Grenzgängerfestival //open:closed borders// and which premiered on Sunday, 31 May 2020.
The kick-off was followed by a decision c-makers core-team had made: an Open Call for participating at CITYMAKERS Virtual Walks Project.
Out of 43 applications, we have chosen 24 contributions to be part of our CITYMAKERS Virtual Walks Project, including a fruitful cooperation with Bosch Alumni Network and Goethe-Institut China. The walks investigated fundamental themes of life in cities that are as relevant for people living in China as for those living in Berlin or any other European city.
Their outcomes were presented in autumn 2020 during the CITYMAKERS China-Europe 5th Anniversary Celebrations.
Walls
This video-walk focuses on the theme of walls and hutong communities from the Forbidden City to Beijing’s Qianmen (前门) during the summer of 2020 when the corona epidemic has not yet ended. A film by Li Xin.
A conscious Walk during Pandemic in Amsterdam
How does the culture of walking is influencing urban planning in Netherlands and Asia and urban design ‘adaptation’? A film by Prisca Arosia.
Chinatown
Das “Chinesenviertel” – Hamburgs forgotten Chinatown. Adopting the role of the archivist, the filmmakers combing through Hamburg’s urban fabric for traces of the hidden history of Hamburgs displaced Chinese community. A film by Lina Martin-Chan and Jöran Mandik.
Rebirth of Industrial Heritage
How do people renovate industrial heritage with creativity, art and culture in the city in order to give them a new function? How to make them a part of the city’s creative economy and let the city be sustainable and livable? A film by Jing SU.
Social Infrastructure
City of Books. Libraries. A personal perception on the quality of spaces in the city. A film by Anna W. I. Au.
Chengdu Stays Playful
How do urban spaces like Tang Ba Jie influence single children in China? A film by Kam, Jaap and Kun.
Chinese in Berlin
Stefanie Schweiger and Angela Köckritz trace the history of Chinese living in Berlin. From the first Chinese arriving in 1822 to be displayed as an exotic curiosity. Up to the very diverse Chinese community residing in Berlin at present. A film by Stefanie Schweiger and Angela Köckritz.
Wonderland in Berlin
Following issues on Green life in Berlin. From Kleigartenanlage Am Volkspark e.V., Interkultureller Garten Lichtenberg up to Vattenfall Wärme Berlin AG. Berlin has given several answers on how to live a green way. A film by Yilan Zeng.
Urban Transformation Shanghai and Berlin
Shanghai and Berlin have change a lot in the last three decades due to gentrification but even more with speculation. How do cities transform over time in Shanghai and Berlin? What does that look like very practically? Who drives the urban transformation? A film by Fanny Hoffmann-Loss, Annette Erpenstein, Mickey Xu.
About Happiness
Is there a wisdom about how a people or a society can find happiness? What is needed in order to lead a fortunate and contended life? A film by Susanne Elgeti and Annette Mehlhorn.
Temporary Faith
A studio in “Iowa”, an artist compound in the Caochangdi Village in Beijing, was forcibly demolished. Since then, the life has entered a state of uncertainty. A film by Zhang Ruo.
Here
East Railway Station Hangzhou, China. The Chinese character “Entrance” outlines the location of the camera. A film by Hu Yue.
Walking after Lockdown Paris – Orleans 1h30
When we think of France, images of Paris come to our mind: the Eiffel tower, the Champs Elysées, walking carefree, basking in on the culture and the atmosphere. How does this image hold up for international students in the middle of a global pandemic? How does it hold up for other French cities? A film by Edna Peza.
European Union Identity: A walk about war and peace
A walk through Luxembourg, one of the European capitals, focussing on the topic of European identity. A film by Rémi Mazourine.
Learning Cities – What if you can’t Walk
A cinematic learning journey through the city of Berlin, investigating places and people active in the field of ‚Learning Cities‘. A film by Kika Yang and Randolfe Camarotto.
Sister cities Duisburg and Wuhan – Commonalities of different cities? Similar cities with differences?
Twin towns Duisburg and Wuhan: Commonalities of different cities? Similar cities with differences? Exploring traces of history and the connections to China in the former steel city. A film by Sonja Broy and Silvan Hagenbrock.
Uncovering Traces of German Colonialism in China in Today’s Berlin
Decolonising our minds. Uncovering traces of German colonialism in China in today’s Berlin. An inquiry of different locations on Kiautschou street and Pekinger Platz. A film by Kollektiv Raumstation.
The Wall, is it still there?
Investigation of the topic of “boundary” in the city, corona time. A film by Wang Keyao and Fang Kong.
Stuttgart
Walking through Stuttgart on the “Stäffele” and along the vineyards. A film by Eve Nagel and Oliver Radtke.