The artistic laboratory initiated a continuous, experimental and participatory process including artistic interventions, discussions and workshops, to rethink and reclaim space for care in public realm.
Manifesto
In a system of oppression, specifically a capitalist, cis-hetero patriarchal, white supremacist one, which systematically builds a hierarchy of discrimination against our bodies — racialised, classified and genderizes bodies, — our Lab suggests Care as a methodology to reclaim freedom/a voice/equality for our bodies in public spaces and creates art forms as a tool for this purpose. We believe in reconstructing and exploring art processes as a collective, conversational, and time-based process: a care-full process. Through that, we reclaim space for care in our public and private realms, which we understand as a radical act of activism. Our mission stands for bringing the question “What is your radical act of care?” to the public. It stands for emphasizing radicality by stripping care from its passive connotation and to practice care as a revolutionary act.
Radical Care Lab is an art collective of three women from different countries who came together during the first module of re-imagine your city project united by a shared interest of rethinking the definition of public space. Together, they created the “Radical Care Lab,” an artistic laboratory with the central question: “What is your radical act of care?”
The sticker journey
Radical Care began its mission by disseminating their central question throughout various public spaces using stickers that feature a QR code leading to their website, www.radicalcarelab.com. These stickers were strategically placed in numerous cities, including Berlin, Pirmasens, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Mexico City, and Brussels. The objective was to collect a diverse array of answers from people across the globe, highlighting the universal desire for radical acts of care within public spaces.
“A glass of wine and drawing on paper like a child. Wasting time is a strong act of rebellion in a society that encourages you to obey to productivism logics, especially as a mother.”
City: Berlin, Age: 35
“Protecting my 5 years old son with my body during Beirut explosion 2020.”
City: Beirut, Age 38
“mothering”
Through instagram
“Giving people space and the freedom to express themselves. I also think it’s important to take care of ourselves, our growth, and aspirations with patience and lots of love.”
City: Montreal, Age: 28
The roundtable event
After working together remotely for almost a year, the group met for the first time in Berlin in July 2023 to initiate the project through an event taking place in “Zukunft am Ostkreuz,” a cultural space in Berlin that houses a bar, cinema, and hosts concerts. This cultural hub has been a symbol of community resilience, fighting against gentrification and advocating for its continued existence.
The talk featured Dr. Cassandra Ellerbe, a diversity and inclusion consultant, LCavaliero Mann, the artistic director at the queer club SchwuZ, and Salma Jreige, coordinator of the Solidarity in Action network and a former manager of the Multaka project.
These speakers engaged in discussions revolving around various aspects of care, activism, radicality, and their intersection. The event aimed to explore thought-provoking questions, including the definition of care, where and how acts of care are practised in the public, the relationship between care and activism, and the perception of care as a form of resistance.
The event concluded with a creative workshop, encouraging participants to express their perspectives on the question, “What is your radical act of care?” with any chosen artistic medium, from cutting textiles and writing to stamping, stitching, and painting.
Participation at “PS: Pflasterstein Paradise” in Pirmasens
Radical Care received an invitation from the Montag Stiftung Kunst und Gesellschaft to collaborate on their project in Pirmasens, Rheinland- Pfalz. The partnership led them to a community space “Mittendrin.”
Radical Care had the opportunity to participate in the “Erzählcafe,” a weekly gathering where people share and listen to each other’s stories. This setting provided an ideal platform to engage in a conversation about memory and care. The day culminated with an open workshop that allowed participants to express their “care memory” through drawing, lino printing, embroidering, or writing on fabric or paper.
The Future of Radical Care Lab
From its inception, Radical Care had envisioned using their grant to set the foundation for their project and allow it to grow in the future. The laboratory format offers a versatile platform to host different projects under the “Radical Care Lab” umbrella. Their next steps involve collecting more answers and sharing them as part of a large textile installation. Additionally, the group continues to explore diverse artistic approaches to address the vital issue that brought these artists together—redefining public space through radical acts of care.
What is your radical act of care?
