Spread power by space
Imagine space as a place that can manifest the power of people and democratic awakenngs. Ecological unbalance, extreme social and economic inequalities, corrosion. of democracy; societal urgent issues that are well-known and researched for decennia or even centuries. Corpo-real students exlore the power of space, through experimentation with existing methods and moreover, desigfning new strategies and methods.
Although the route of economic power and political power often go parallel, there are of course more factors of political power-unbalance such as unbalance of violence-protection, knowledge-information, transparency-privacy, physical and mental health and comfort, space for voice and expression as well as for refuge and escape. These routes are worthwhile to investigate for spatial researchers.
Longread
Dissolve harmful concentrations of power
We are interested in the ways that political power takes, has taken and can take when de-concentrating, also beyond the dominant property-conditions, nation-state-concepts, and ideologies. How spatial and bodily interventions and methods (possibly avoiding violence) can help people to spread power, to regain power or to prevent concentration of power deserves exploration, experiment, and collection. Although there is a considerable stock of theory and knowledge about participation-methods and democratizing strategies in urbanism and (interior) architecture, these have not till this moment prevented the large concentrations of property and political power we currently wittness.
Last not least we encourage students to gain and spread political power according to their own ethical compass possibly with the help of spatial methods, research, and interventions. Within a safe space of negotiation beyond violence and beyond muting the voice of others.
Complex problems
This case study, part of the curriculum, deals with the outside world. In recent years the problems of this ‘outside world’ have increased in urgency, gravity, and complexity. Envisioning them from the perspective of a single organization might be a too narrow frame to face them. A long-term research line offers a broader perspective and allows us to face problems and themes that transcend the scope of one batch of students, the amount of work they can do and the short-term concerns of the year.
Time-bridging cooperation
A cooperative attitude in this Case-study is an important learning outcome. Not only to make students fit for the diverse and complex working field and adaptive to the different roles they will have to play as designers, architects and researchers, but also to empower them. To teach them strategies to organize themselves, help and empower each other, and pursue their own (ethical) interests or chose the interests they serve more freely. A longer lasting research line will, increase the notion of cooperation and owned influence not only within the batch of students, but also grow a conscience of owned history and owned future; students do not only study and build on famous researchers, (interior)architects and artists, but also on previous work of other students and lay the base for their successors.
Corpo-real
Corpo-real, ArtEZ research master in Interior Architecture, is located in the city of Zwolle where students and tutors develop a research-driven spatial design practice geared towards an unknown future. We invite our students to address recent and future societal changes, based on an understanding that whatever has worked well in the past may not be sufficient in the future, and that many of these changes are too broad and complex to address using existing methods. Therefore, we encourage our students to make good use of knowledge from other disciplines, through collaborations within and outside ArtEZ. Throughout the programme, students are introduced to, and learn to work with, research methods from various disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, theatre, curating, or literature.
Irene Müller (tutor research)
Ingrid van Zanten (head of programme)
Roos Krootjes (programme coordinator)
E corporeal@artez.nl
W corpo-real.artez.nl/in
I corporeal.artez