The Future Commons
Curated by Cecilia Casabona
The Future Commons delves into the definition, manifestation, and proliferation of the Commons, examining the processes that facilitate their preservation and flourishing. Our intention is far from confining the Commons within a universal definition, as exemplified by the United Nations’ concept of “global commons,” which has often been exploited for capitalization and commodification under the guise of protection.
Instead, we aim to explore and address a fundamental question: how do we prevent the objectification of the Commons, particularly within the art world, where they risk being instrumentalized within the same market logic they seek to transcend? To tackle this challenge, it is crucial to articulate the characteristics, conditions, space, time, processes, and goals that define the Commons. These processes are inherently situational and calls for community engagement. The community is urged to establish itself through a qualitative dimension of being-in-common, defined by the quality of their relationships, collaborations, and shared responsibilities.
The five-year program focuses on articulating processes and activities that foster co-creation and coexistence among artists, institutions, and locality where they operate. These activities, marked as -ing, are always ongoing and in the making as they express acts of living: dreaming, working, loving, learning, and healing. Retracing these activities underscores their role in shaping common goods and values and guiding how we care for them and for one another.
Image: ‘Abysmal Knitwear Eleganza’ by Émilien Neu
