Draftsmen’s Congress 2012
From 4 June to 20 July 2012, in the context of the Solidarity Action organized by the Swiss Institute in Rome during the 7th Berlin Biennial, the Draftsmen’s Congress took place in the internal courtyard and exhibition space of the Swiss Institute in Rome, at Via Liguria 20, and at ESC – Atelier Autogestito – at Via dei Volsci, 159. Both places were set up to create a calm, relaxing atmosphere, to encourage exchange of ideas but also to trigger lively discussion. The walls and floors of the two locations – covered with white surfaces – formed the backdrop where participants could draw. Many artists, illustrators, architects, designers, street artists and other professionals responded to our invitation to take part in the Congress. In this project the idea of authorship, the hierarchy determined by expertise and any type of qualification, were challenged in the unfolding of a process that gave rise to excess, which as such was free and open to all. During the months of June and July workshops and concerts were organized, and contexts for gathering were created, conceived to generate relations and communications among different social and cultural groups with opposing or simply different interests, beliefs and viewpoints.

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2012 edition video: