How do we define public space today – and who can access it? Through public preposition, Mischa Kuball explores these questions directly within the urban landscape, then brings them into the exhibition spaces of Baukunstarchiv NRW. His investigation begins with a fundamental observation: public space is not static, but emerges from the dynamic relationships between places, people, and movement. Kuball renders these networks visible by marking historical, political, and everyday contexts—making them legible anew through three urban interventions in Dortmund, an exhibition structured as an ongoing process, and a dedicated symposium.

The role of art in public space has undergone profound transformation since modernism. This shift is already evident in Giovanni Battista Nolli's (1701–1756) insight that "public space" is neither monolithic nor uniform—it comprises multiple distinct spaces, each with varying degrees of openness and access. As architect, surveyor, and cartographer, Nolli's innovation lay in defining public space through accessibility rather than physical form. This principle remains foundational to urban planning today, particularly in how we analyze patterns of movement and use.

Today, mapping public space is increasingly complex. The degree of accessibility—a defining criterion for what we consider "public"—has become far more nuanced. Invitation-only private spaces coexist with privately managed areas offering selective entry; public territories may be temporarily restricted while others remain perpetually open. These distinctions challenge traditional definitions.

Baukunstarchiv NRW | Dortmund
under construction / public preposition
15 January–22 March 2026

www.baukunstarchiv.nrw