The radio programs in the database have been selected for their strong local color and program format. Where possible, stations that solely broadcast music of a certain genre have been avoided, as they would not support the concept behind the work.

Part of this concept is the effect of disorientation as this large-scale map is not experienced from a (safe) distance but participants are placed upon it. Continents appear from a different perspective, and geography and the relationships among continents seem distorted.
Another part lies beyond the mundane quality of the radio broadcasts as attentive participants realize different time zones and seasons in the different hemispheres besides the multitude of languages and dialects. These broadcasts together with the unusual, disorientating viewpoint create Gestalt effects that enable people to perceive the earth and other cultures from a different perspective. It is a collective and holistic experience of exploration, surprise, longing and belonging, mediating between the individuals (in the installation) and the cultures of the broadcasting places, creating an intense, presence that is expected to last beyond the active participation itself.

Radiomap is the practice-based part of a research project Hohl is undertaking at the Art & Design Research Centre of Sheffield Hallam University. This exploration is about the Experiential Qualities of Interactive Environments.

Artist Biographies

Michael Hohl
Michael Hohl graduated in 2000 with an Masters in Digital Media Design from the University of the Arts, Berlin and also spent some time at the Köln international School of Design (KISD) in Cologne. He worked as a conceptionist in digital media from 1994 in at different digital media companies in Berlin (PIxelpark, ArtCom, cityscope, imstall). In 2002, after the bubble burst he relocated to the UK (after having lived for almost 10 years in Berlin). He is currently researching "Experiential Qualities of Interactive Environments" at the Art & Design Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University.


Stephan Huber
Stephan Huber is a freelance designer, artist and programmer based in Hamburg, Germany. He started with an apprenticeship in typesetting and graduated in 2003 with a Masters in Digital Media Design from the University of the Arts, Berlin. Stephan is interested in wicked technical challenges such as the visualisation of databases. He also tries to explore the sources of right-wing extremism in his MA thorough his installation "A world of truths".