Alicia Rottke Fitzpatrick

Friction between otherness is a necessary aspect of heterogeneous urban life. Friction can manifest on a spectrum, from aggressive clashes where individuals struggle to be receptive to others' perspectives, to gentler forms where understanding becomes easier as stakes are lowered.

This type of friction finds successful facilitation within arts and cultural events. Presented as leisure and entertainment, these spaces offer opportunities to experience other perspectives. Through curated programs focused on conviviality, autonomy, and temporality, these events open doors to other narratives, fostering dialogue and understanding. This gentle friction helps perceptions shift and realities converge, making it crucial in understanding otherness today.

However, institutions and potential participants increasingly perceive arts and cultural spaces as catering only to elitist circles. This perception hinders efforts to attract diverse participants and diminishes the impact of gentle friction.

In response to this gap and to sustain the vitality of gentle friction, ‘temporary territories of _____’ is created. A temporary scenography, a series of objects collectively erected in public space. Alluding to cultural venues through form, but in materials vernacular to public space. A space to be used as simple public furniture where everyday public life can be the program while also activated by an array of cultural programs. To exist neither solely as a cultural venue nor public infrastructure, rather somewhere in between.