Location: MOP2, Aula Design
Moderated by: Dekanin Prof. Dr. Pamela C. Scorzin

storyLAB kiU: “It cannot be ruled out that it is true that…”

What happens when digital art doesn’t just exhibit itself but also intervenes—in spaces, in perception, in the city? In this lecture series, storyLAB kiU (Dortmunder U) presents the artistic and design-oriented research of Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts, right where it is most effective: in public space. As an offshoot of the university, storyLAB kiU creates a platform for artistic experiments, externally funded projects, and direct encounters with a broad audience—right in the heart of the city at the Dortmunder U.

Under the artistic direction of Dipl.-Des. Harald Opel, numerous high-profile works have been created: from “Page21” in the immersive space in the foyer to facade mappings at various locations, and immersive 360° videos under the fulldome in the foyer. The spectrum extends further to XR experiments such as Stage 0, Do you exist Miss Q, Ndinguwe, and Metamorphotica; to installations such as Reliefs; to various kiU Salons and kiUTalks!; as well as to performances such as Palimpsest. The portfolio is complemented by external projects and media installations, such as those for the Bochum Mining Museum, the Diocesan Museum in Paderborn, or the Digitale Straße—works that are also presented in the lecture series and demonstrate just how rich and versatile digital art can be in real-world contexts.

For here, indeed, very little seems out of the question: As Harald Opel likes to put it, “it cannot be ruled out that it is true that the storyLAB kiU is perhaps not a laboratory at all, but a portal—and that every project is a parallel world that writes itself.” The interweaving of these possible probabilities structures the storyLAB’s visionary landscape and opens up a space of possibilities for everything that—in the spirit of “it cannot be ruled out that it is true…”—becomes conceivable. The storyLAB kiU will be represented in the lecture series by Harald Opel, Tobias Bieseke, Lennart Oberscheidt, and Stephan Hauptmann, who will provide insights into the work and be available for questions and discussions.

In 2025, Harald Opel received the Research Award from Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts for his work at the storyLAB kiU in the Dortmunder U.