Important topics of public art works are mapping, psychogeography of urban landscape, which was developed (both theoretically and practically) by members of the Situationist International in 1950-60s. As a result of 'active exploring' of Paris thorough investigation of relationships between an environment and an individual (and what is remarkable – of entire social groups and communities) the Situationists hoped to build a transformation strategy – The Revolution of Everyday Life, which was essential for their program. Later after detailed analysis of psychogeographical features of an urban area the Situationists initiated 'construction of situations', i.e. creation of some challenging circumstances that loosen the status quo and are considered as the main means of transformation.

Almaty is a unique challenge for artistic interventions. It is located at the intersection of different identities (national, ethnic, and even geographical, as a border of a valley and mountains); it is connecting the legacy of the past (of both Soviet period and earlier times of the Russian Empire) and contemporary complex process of state establishment. The city provides the artists with numerous objects and topics for analysis and specific sites for their projects. Almaty genius loci is the central topic of festival 2013, it involves works rooted in city landscape, expressing its past and present (including future projections), critical analysis of political, cultural and social features, special aspects of town planning and aesthetic approaches of the city, since the city is being considered as an integral flexible body.

Almalinski District is the main site in 2013. Here Verniy Fort was started, which gave its origin to the city of Verniy, renamed as Alma Ata in 1921 and declared the capital of Kazakh SSR in 1927. Since the 1930s the district was named Stalinskiy and since the 1960s and up to the middle of 1990s it was renamed as Sovetski District. Currently Almalinski District is the heart of political, economic and cultural life of Almaty and geographical center of the city, initially the center was grouped around the junction point a little bit higher Gostindvoskiy Square (currently the Green Bazaar). This is the location of museums, theaters, and educational institutions, but there is one missing element of modern infrastructure – there is no center of contemporary art, though Tengri Umai Gallery is located here, which is actually the only active ongoing organization of contemporary art. Entrance to the streets and direct communication with the audience, 'occupation' of public space in the district by artists and declaration it a temporary outdoor museum of contemporary art suggests ways to further development of art infrastructure, as lack of organizational system of contemporary art in Almaty and in Kazakhstan in general significantly complicates the activities of artists and their interaction with the viewers.