Æstetisk og kunstnerisk byudvikling med særligt fokus på borgerinddragelse og empowerment

Abstract

This thesis examines how it is possible to create urban development with the potential of generating aesthetic experience and fill the functions of art centred around participation from local citizens and enhance empowerment specifically related to the concept DemokraCityTM. DemokraCityTM is a concept developed by architect Jes Vagnby, which focuses on generation of empowerment in local societies by collaborations of the local municipality, local citizens, educational and cultural institutions by means of temporary artistic and aesthetic urban developments to, among other things, increase respect of democracy. The main grip in this thesis is creation based on theory in connection to developing five artistic and aesthetic proposals to place in a village context, which is facing challenges due to a great extension of the built-up area increasing the population in the next ten years. The theories examined in this thesis are aesthetic properties and aesthetic experience from a philosophical point of view. It is further studied with the angle of psycology as compared to the theory of flow to find ways to expand aesthetic experience and art for people not that familiar with art encounters. The specific proposals of artworks in the context of the Lisbjerg area are described and visualized to make ground for an analysis of aesthetic properties, the potential of aesthetic experience and the functions of art contained in the initiatives. It furthermore elaborates how the projects enable empowerment and increase social capital both during citizens’ participation and involvement in the creative process and also in the completed works of art.