Unlearning the old: Artistic methods challenge the frameworks of urban planning

A collaboration between the Institute for Housing and Urban Research (IBF) and the Public Art Agency Sweden, the project is grounded in the need for greater reflexive capacity. Reflexivity involves critically reflecting on one’s own ways of thinking, which can lead to new perspectives, increased room for action, and a greater sense of meaning in planning work.

– Previous research shows that methods allowing practitioners time and space for collective reflection are crucial for such change. In today’s administration, frighteningly little space is given for this, which risks old, unsustainable ideas becoming taken for granted, says Lina Isacs, researcher at IBF and one of the two project leaders.

The project particularly examines economistic logics—where measurability in monetary terms and "efficiency" dominate—which are often assumed to be necessary but are also perceived by many as obstacles to new approaches for sustainable societal development.

At the heart of the project are four salons held at Skeppsholmen in Stockholm. A salon can be seen as an experimental space where participants engage with artistic expressions and existential discussions to open up new perspectives and challenge the taken-for-granted. The salons explore how art can disrupt and create new reference frames in processes where traditional structures are otherwise difficult to shift. Participants experience artworks without prior knowledge of their meaning (practicing not-knowing), write about so-called frictions (understood as conflicting emotions, not always verbalized, where no simple course of action is available), and engage in group and individual reflection exercises.

– We believe that these frictions have value and can capture broader societal themes. Identifying them is a way to reflect on one's own practice. We think this can strengthen professional judgment and expand one’s thinking, clarifying both the room for action and the possibilities for resistance within the role of a public official, says Gunilla Edemo, doctoral student at Södertörn University, who leads the project alongside Lina Isacs.

The four salons will take place during 2024 and 2025, with participants from agencies such as the Swedish Transport Administration, Region Stockholm, and various municipalities. Each salon will be documented and evaluated as part of IBF’s and the Public Art Agency’s joint mission to promote interdisciplinary and artistic perspectives in societal development, as well as to provide a foundation for new research applications and collaborations.

– This is an opportunity to test radical approaches to creating new ways forward. The experiences can highlight the transformative work that is already happening on the margins, often led by public officials but made invisible by current structures. We hope to inspire other actors and strengthen knowledge about the role of art in reflexivity and sustainable urban development, concludes Isacs.