This urban observatory has been working for two years to propose a common reflection on how the context of multidimensional crisis (environmental, health, economic, social…) shows itself in a contemporary city.
Conceived as a portable infrastructure in the shape of a public square, Behatokia has established both at the Centre and other parts of the city to open spaces for debate on the role of art and culture in urban transformations and their innovation capacity. The purpose is to create new imaginaries and project other possible worlds.
The programme is complemented with an interactive arrangement aimed at citizens to collect and visualise data on this crisis scenario in the local environment.
This entire research process will be included in the project's final publication, which will be published by Azkuna Zentroa later this year.
Description:
Behatokia is an urban observatory i.e. an open interactive Situation Room from where you can observe how this multi-dimensional crisis (environmental, health, economic and social, etc.) context unfolds in the city; and how art and culture can contribute to improving urban inhabitability conditions.
Presented as a portable infrastructure shaped like a public square, Behatokia is a space for dialogue between local agents and visitors proposing action-research projects via artistic cultural practices in the face of contemporary urban challenges. The programme is complemented with an interactive feature which proposes the visitor collects and visualizes data on this crisis scenario in our local environment.
Behatokia 1 - Contamination & health crisis (06-10-2022). Coinciding with the Center’s 2022 Open Day, Behatokia kicked off on October 6 with the first meeting on Pollution and the health crisis.
Behatokia 2 - The city on the table (21-01-2023). The second Behatokia encounter moves to the Ribera Market to tackle the food crisis and urban design.
Behatokia 3 - Gentrification and entitlement to the city (16-03-2023). Behatokia continues in March with a meeting on gentrification and the right to the city. This third situation room will take place in Tinglados del Arenal.
Behatokia 4 - Zombie Spaces (04-06-2023). Under the title “Espacios Zombi” (Zombie Spaces), the next “Situation Room” will take place in Zorrozaurre. This encounter will reflect on spaces which -defined by speculative rationales, public management conditioned by private interests, the stoppage of commenced works etc.
Behatokia 5 - Renaturbanizar (13-07-2023). The emotional separation of human beings from the environment and nature, especially when an increasing number of people live in cities and in urban and technological environments, is called “Extinction of Experience” by the scientific world.
Behatokia 6 - Migrations (28-09-2023). The sixth and final meeting of this project focuses on the transformations of cities caused by migratory flows.
