MASA/Casino Container
«Electronic Café International»

The Cologne groups realized this project as a mobile public space, with stations at documenta 9, the 1993 Venice Biennial, and Cologne's Mediapark.
In about 60 individual projects, artists, designers, musicians, architects, writers, and critics researched, discussed and criticized the changed potentials of technology and production. Their temporary studio was the 'Electronic Café International' in the upper story of the container with connections to various networks and work contexts (direct ISDN connections, Internet, picture-telephone, audio-conferences, etc.), which they could use as 'artists in residence'. The intent was to break through both the one-sidedness of station-controlled communication and the arbitrariness of an open channel, where the expressions cancel each other out.
For the present media society, Casino Containerdeveloped the concept of a mobile public space that can be employed where it is needed. It combines the traditional café and the medial work station in an up-to-date form of discussion that connects public life on site with the networks of the global village. A site is occupied, activated, and changed for a limited time. Then the journey moves on.