TRACES | Beth von Undall: Screens and Controllers. Invited by Jeremy Couillard as part of the Games class

Beth von Undall: Screens and Controllers. Invited by Jeremy Couillard as part of the games class
I ask myself: How can an artist:in best present a video game in an exhibition context?

The presentation of video games in the context of contemporary art is still relatively new. While game engines and hardware are becoming increasingly accessible to artists, art institutions are still struggling to show video game works, yet their own aesthetic formalisms are already emerging. This talk takes a look at a range of video game installations by artists and traces their stylistic development, from game dev conferences (Gamescom, GDC, Dreamhack) to late-night gaming cafés, LAN parties, living room setups, etc.
An obvious problem with presenting video games in an exhibition context is the scale of the game and the time involved. Few video games are short experiences, and many require a great deal of attention from the player to engage with their narratives, mechanics and game worlds. Such resources are rare in the gallery and in art institutions.
The event will be held in English.

The Transdisciplinary Research Center for Exhibition Studies (TRACES) bundles interdisciplinary research approaches on the history and present of exhibitions at the School of Art and Design Kassel and various Faculties of the University of Kassel. The research station on Lutherplatz was built by students at the University of Kassel in summer 2021, based on a design by Bauhaus teacher Ludwig Hilberseimer, and serves to promote dialog between urban society and the university. Here, students and lecturers provide insights into their work with talks, lectures, workshops, seminars and exhibitions and involve the public in research in the sense of "citizen science". more about TRACES

TRACES lecture series summer 2026