Title: m.city / m.város, Budapest 2007 – Péter Kozma (1961–2023)
URL: https://kozma.foundation/works/mcity-mvaros-2007/
Language: English
Magyar változat: https://kozma.foundation/hu/muvek/mcity-mvaros-2007/
Description: m.city / m.város (2007–2008): Péter Kozma's 12,000 m² projection on the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, showing the networks that connect the city.
# m.city / m.város
A 12,000 m² projection on the facade of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, visualising the networks that connect the city.
**Date**: 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008
**Place**: Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Roosevelt Square
**City**: Budapest, Hungary
**Projection**: 12,000 m², 1,700,000 ANSI lumen, 126 kW (press release)[1][2][3]
The press release gives the technical data: 12,000 m² projected in total, of which a 320 m long facade and 3,000 m² of ground, with 1,700,000 ANSI lumen and 126 kW, using the Pani slide projector system; twelve themes in total, two shown each day. The opening speech was given by the philosopher and art critic József Tillmann. Main sponsor and host: Magyar Telekom; producer: Supergroup. A daily programme of DJs and dance accompanied the installation.[3][2]
Start date: 22 December 2007, with a press event on 20 December.[3]
## Essay by Mária Nagy
Original text Mária Nagy: m.city [meta-, multi-, memory-, modular-] – polycentric city[2]
> m.city [meta-, multi-, memory-, modular-] – polycentric city
> With the expansion of a media and information based society in the past decade, the notions of disappearing, disorientation and dislocation have found their way into the vocabulary we use to describe both in art and common urban phenomena, calling gradually for the redefinition of the city itself.
> While we have conquered distance many years ago with the help of communication networks and infrastructure (postal services, telephone, logistics and transportations systems) we have given little attention to how the increase of mobility changes the way in which cities are perceived. One gets a different perspective of the city from the window of a car, a train or an airplane - buildings and locations that are too remote to have any kind of connection from a pedestrian's view, now show themselves in yet unknown spacial connections. The popularity of informational devices not only transform our personal spaces (the email written to the neighbor gets routed through a satellite link), but electronic displays of various informational or cultural content are becoming integrated parts of the urban landscape. Meanwhile, our sight is becoming more prosthetic, indirect, assisted by electronic devices. Our perception of urban spaces is acquired through terminals, webcams and video displays. How does a simultaneous, repeated, indirect sensorial perception, the navigation through a complex informational texture, impact our image of the city? Our mental map of the city does not reflect the real proportions of the urban space. Modern urban structures are no longer represented by panoramic view, but by informational topographies.
> Peter Kozma's m.city light art installation brings a new perspective on the relationships of the city and art. Transgressing the first social utopias that accompanied the emergence of digital cultures, i.e. digital darwinism, Kozma tries to investigate how the network culture changed our spatial perceptions. His experiment, the light installation projected onto the facade of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, on Roosevelt square, by the bank of the Danube, is an attempt to visualize the meta-, multi-, micro- and memory-networks invisibly connecting the city.
> The american sociologist and economist Saskia Sassen wrote that to fully understand the impact of digitalization and globalization, we need to suspend the category of 'city'. Rather, we need to construct a more abstract category of centrality and of places of centrality, that, ironically could allow us to recover the city in the end, albeit a recovery is just one instance within a much broader set of issues.
> Peter Kozma's m.city light art installation is challenging such an act of suspension, right in the center of the city, transforming one of the best known sites of Budapest. The experiment, founded on both artistic and architectural techniques for shaping spaces, will be a projection onto the facade of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, on Roosevelt square and by the bank of the river Danube. The 12000 square meter image offers visitors a direct experience, a moment to reevaluate their relationship to the urban space they inhabit.
> According to Marshall McLuhan, the content of a new medium is the media that preceded it: as drawings and paintings did to photography, still pictures and theater to cinema, narrative and concerts to radio. From a media-archeological point of view, the precedents of Peter Kozma's light paintings would be found in the space- and light-modulators of Laszlo Moholy-Nagy. Like the light experiments of Moholy-Nagy, the purpose of optical distortion in Peter Kozma's installation is to create a new architectural and spacial experience. Although the installation fits the architectural elements and the lighting builds a precise sensorial envelope around the three dimensional mass of the buildings, it twists the structures from the known points of reference and perspectives using the visual devices of projection, including slowing, montage, blending, and camouflage. The light effects, the intensity of coloring are not meant to serve a naturalistic representation, rather to achieve a structural and optical continuity. Unfolding the landscape of the Danube's bank, revealing a new face of the familiar view, will hopefully not only reflect a new technical environment, but will result in a new spiritual perspective as well.
> Mária Nagy
Quoted unchanged from the microsite.
## Project team
- Peter Kozma - concept, direction, project leader
- Attila Sütő - project management
- Gly - production manager
- Zoltán Ferenczi - visual design
- Béla Hegyi - visual design
- Norbert Szabó - visual design
- Paulina Chmurzyńska - graphic design
- Mária Nagy - text and concept
- Zsolt Fekete - photography
- Endre Somogyi - photography
- András Végh - photography
- Attila Gombos - construction
- Gábor Soós - projection technics[1]
Microsite (2007, reconstructed): . Flickr: .
## Images
Photographs: Peter Kozma Archive. The photographers of the Light Art Installation project were Zsolt Fekete, Endre Somogyi and András Végh, "and many others"; individual credits are not known.
Image: Gellérthegyről
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 1 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 2 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 3 of 99 in the archive's gallery
- Gallery (100 images)
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 4 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 5 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 6 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 7 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 8 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 9 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 10 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 11 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 12 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 13 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 14 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 15 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 16 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 17 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 18 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 19 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 20 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 21 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 22 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 23 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 24 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 25 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 26 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 27 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 28 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 29 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 30 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 31 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 32 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 33 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 34 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 35 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 36 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 37 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 38 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 39 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 40 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 41 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 42 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 43 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 44 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 45 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 46 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 47 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 48 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 49 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 50 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 51 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 52 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 53 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 54 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 55 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 56 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 57 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 58 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 59 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 60 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 61 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 62 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 63 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 64 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 65 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 66 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 67 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 68 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 69 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 70 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 71 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 72 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 73 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 74 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 75 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 76 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 77 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 78 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 79 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 80 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 81 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 82 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 83 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 84 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 85 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 86 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 87 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 88 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 89 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 90 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 91 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 92 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 93 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 94 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 95 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 96 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 97 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 98 of 99 in the archive's gallery
Image: m.city / m.város, Budapest, 22 December 2007 to 1 January 2008: photograph 99 of 99 in the archive's gallery
- ## Sources
1. light-art.kozma.foundation: m.város microsite (HU):
2. light-art.kozma.foundation: m.city microsite (EN):
3. light-art.kozma.foundation: m.város press release (HU):