| ”To
Mushroom” is a collection of maps that explore social
systems and different types of meeting places from an ecological
perspective. Here local initiatives, as well as programs run
by the municipality and big events as the Stockholm Pride Festival
are explored. What they have in common is that they transgress
borders, act as interfaces, or bridge different fields and social
groups. Concepts such as social capital, exclusion,
public space and democracy are examined –
this in order to discuss more or less invisible social values
in relation to urban planning. |
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Why mushrooms?
Mushrooms perform an essential role in ecosystems. They are
indispensable in nutrient cycling and exchange. Most fungi
are largely invisible, but over 90% of all plant species live
in symbiosis with mushrooms and are dependent upon this relationship
for survival.
Public spaces, that offer platforms for engagement and interaction
across social borders, are indispensable for a vital democracy.
But what does it take to create and sustain such spaces? Using
mushrooms as metaphor, we highlight the processes and relations
needed (mycorrhizas), rather than the visible products (the
fruiting bodies).
The case studies presented here do not attempt to categorize
or represent the vast and diverse field of human interactions,
but instead the maps take a closer look at the unexpected
relations, contexts and occurrences that trigger the forming
of important meeting places. Is it possible to plan for the
unplanned?
Context
”To Mushroom” was distributed with the so-called
exhibition version of the new Regional Development Plan for
the Stockholm Region, RUFS 2010, during the autumn
2009. It has been made within the framework of a long-term
project at the Office of Regional Planning [Regionplanekontoret],
called ”Sharing/Dividing a Society” [Att dela
ett samhälle]. The black folder in which it was distributed
also includes work by Johan Waerndt and Monika Marklinger
(collaborative) and Johan Tirén.View the folder here
>>
Exhibitions and seminars
The project has been presented at:
"Verka",
group exhibition and seminar on artistic strategies in urban
space, Sep 10-19, 2009, Studio 44, Stockholm.
"Open
engagement - Commissioning and Producing Art for the Public
Realm", group exhibition and international symposium,
Sep 25-Oct 11, 2009, Marabouparken annex, Sundbyberg.
"Labyrinth
09 - Writings and Observations", Nov 7-Mar 13, 2010,
Botkyrka konsthall.
”Att
dela ett samhälle",
28 Nov-9 Dec, 2009, Kulturhuset, Stockholm.
Download ”To Mushroom" (A3-format, pdf in Swedish)
>>
Visit
Anna Högberg's website >>
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