We are submerging in the “misty, unconditional core, the dreamy, foggy, steamy matter, the uncontrollable and wet foam of imagination” * of the self-structuring methods that mediate Ricerca X collective residencies. The soft matter reveals us a question:
what kind of values do we wish to institutionalize?
*these descriptive words from the article “The Institutionalisation, Precarity and the Rhythm of Work” (2020) by Bojana Kunst and the article “Tyranny of the Structurlessness” (1970) by Jo Freeman provide a frame within which to get lost in materials from Worskpace Ricerca X residencies between 2023 and 2024 from artists Aurelio Di Virgilio, Polina Fenko, Miranda Secondari, Marko Gutić Mižimakov, Hannah Krebs, Heike Langsdorf and Alice MacKenzie. These assemblages, on the one hand, generate meanings with no sense, but on the other hand, provide a line of thought to follow with poetic curiosity, in order to come out from the other side with a feeling about possible collective re-organizations.
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Principles of Democratic Structuring
Once the movement no longer clings tenaciously to the ideology of ‘structurelessness’, it will be free to develop those forms of organisation best suited to its healthy functioning. This does not mean that we should go to the other extreme and blindly imitate the traditional forms of organisation. But neither should we blindly reject them all . Some traditional techniques will prove useful, albeit not perfect; some will give us insights into what we should not do to obtain certain ends with minimal costs to the individuals in the movement. Mostly, we will have to experiment with different kinds of structuring and develop a variety of techniques to use for different situations. The ‘lot system’ is one such idea which has emerged from the movement. It is not applicable to all situations, but it is useful, in some. Other ideas for structuring are needed. But before we can proceed to experiment intelligently, we must accept the idea that there is nothing inherently bad about structure itself – only its excessive use. While engaging in this trial-and-error process, there are some principles we can keep in mind that are essential to democratic structuring and are politically effective also:”
Workspace Ricerca X – Research and Dramaturgy is a platform for supporting and developing artistic research and dramaturgy in the field of choreography and performance.
Curating artists Francesco Dalmasso, Elisa D’Amico, Ambra Pittoni.
2023 artists in residence: Aurelio Di Virgilio, Miranda Secondari, Polina Fenko. Guests Bojana Kunst, Julian Barnett, Martina Ruhsam. Satellite artists Anna Basti, Barb Bordoni, Marta Sponzilli, Teodora Grano.
2024 artists in residence: Marko Gutić Mižimakov, Hannah Krebs, Heike Langsdorf, Alice MacKenzie, together with the presence of Silvia Bottiroli as a guest.
Materials used in the assemblages:The Story of Harris – An Allegory by Hannah Krebs
Ocean Calls Blue by Alice MacKenzie
Gold Forgets by Alice MacKenzie
NNN_Fermentation by Alice MacKenzie
The Headboard by Miranda Secondari
Your Belly on the Table, to Teodora by Aurelio Di Virgilio
Clay figures from practising with Aurelio Di Virgilio
Still shots from films, selected by Polina FenkoTexts referenced:
The Institutionalisation, Precarity and the Rhythm of Work (2020) by Bojana Kunst
Tyranny of the Structurelessness” (1970) by Jo Freeman (read collectively during the residency in 2024 Novemeber)Article curated by Kadri Sirel