
RHIZOME is a place devoted to issues of participatory art and participatory design present in contemporary art since the 90s of the 20th century, as well as to actions on them precursor, initiated in the 70s, omitted in the mainstream description of the history of contemporary art. The activities undertaken by RHIZOME are to prevent the emergence of a research gap regarding the aforementioned area of culture as well as the promotion of artistic, social and ethical aspects of participatory creative activities. The way RHIZOME operates is based on the principle of cooperation and exchange with centers dealing with similar issues in Poland and abroad.
In the sphere of ideas, RHIZOME refers to the rhizome concept proposed by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari in the Mille plateaux. Capitalisme et schizophrénie (1980). The French authors compare to the rhizome the ways in which contemporary philosophical, political and cultural thought. Used as a symbolic image of the specifics of participatory art and participatory design, the structure of the rhizome is intended to indicate a characteristic departure from the hierarchical understanding of both the roles of the creator / designer and forms of artistic / design production for the orientation of inclusive and networking cooperation of many participants of social life .
The Cultures beyond Culture Foundation in cooperation with the City Culture Institute in Gdańsk.
Agnieszka Wołodźko, PhD (project’s manager): artist, curator and cultural researcher. Studies: Academy of Fine Arts, Gdansk: Faculty of Interior Architecture and Industry Design; Faculty of Painting and Graphics (MA) and A. Mickiewicz University in Poznan: Faculty of Social Sciences (PhD). As an artist, she deals with art in public space, engaged art, photography, installation, ceramics, sound works and actions. She implements workshops for various social groups. She writes texts on contemporary art and culture and published books: Japan 2002-2003. Photographic Diary (2005), Reading Walls (2014), and Encounters and Microutopias. Participatory art in Scandinavia (2017). She is the president of the Foundation „Cultures Beyond Culture” and a member of the international Think Tank Transbaltic.