Participation and anti-curation

An investigation into the rules behind the games at Happenstance, the rigour that a free space demands and the efficacy of anti-curation.

“Since arriving in Venice, I have been immersed in the processes and philosophy underlying the Happenstance. It has become clear that there is a great deal of strong design and procedural rigour underlying the creation of this freespace. With playing, there are always rules and in cleverly designing the rules, the players are free to enjoy the game. The same applies to making things, objects, paintings, architecture, etc. Being a part of the freespace at the Happenstance, day in day out has allowed me time and opportunity to reflect on the way that this system works through a strong series of unwritten rules.”

by Theodore Shack