Processes of Institutionalisation of Critical Spatial Practices

Abstract

This paper proposes to look at ‘critical spatial practices’ in relation to institutions. It understands the institutional process as dynamic, vital, and always in motion, nurtured by what are defined as praxis instituens, which, through their enactment of dissenting stances, manage to challenge and deform what they encounter, transforming also themselves in a mutual relationship. Two practices, Stalker and Torinostratosferica, have been observed using ethnographic methods of inquiry. The contribution is constructed with a twofold objective: on the one hand, by positioning itself in the middle of things, it adopts a pragmatic approach to examine spatial practices and civic demands, since these do not exceed institutional logics but are rather embedded within them. On the other hand, looking at the processes of institutionalisation of their dissent and quest, it focused on the effects of their actions and projects, thus stressing what institutions could learn from the cases.