Contingent Agencies

Contingent Agencies is an artistic research project conceived to inquiry into a subject matter, which is central for artistic practices and has been denominated with different terms: atmosphere, ambience, Stimmung, mood, topology, place, environment or figure. All these expressions stand for a kind of presence, which is basically characterized as enveloping, impermanent, unstable, intangible and non-objectified. It is a kind of presence that emerges surrounding the person to whom it appears due to the interaction between all components of the situation in which it arises. This project focuses on the re- search of one central aspect of this kind of presence that has been often overseen: the agency of the situa- tions components that allow it to arise. In this regard, the main research question is the following: What is the specific agency of the different types of elements that enable the emergence of ephemeral environ- ments? In other words: How do the single components of a situation interact so that a fleeting figure aris- es? In addition, this project pursues three subsidiary goals: first, to contribute to the fundamental knowledge about this modality of presence; second, to develop a new research methodology, based on artistic practice and practices of the humanities, that allows for an exhaustive and non-reductive inquiry; and third, to design innovative formats and strategies of dissemination. The theoretical framework of this project is configured fundamentally by the work of some authors that have researched the modality of presence to be investigated here: Böhme, Thibaud, Gumbrecht, Malpas and Casey. This inquiry takes a phenomenological and enactivist approach, which enables a fruitful combination of an experienced-based access to the object of research and a system-oriented perspective. The recently concluded three-year research projects of the key-researchers Nikolaus Gansterer (Choreo-graphic Figures") and Alex Arteaga (Architecture of Embodiment) constitute the conceptual and methodological basis for the integration of these sources and approaches. The structure of this project is based on research cells: units of inquiry defined by a limited duration, a specific spatiality, a determined number of participants (artists, specialist of different disciplines), a group of practices to be realized and of strategies to connect them. The core of each cell is termed þing (pronounced thing): the spatiotemporal framework, in which the fundamental aesthetic practicespractices of notationare carried out. Contingent Agencies is a project of fundamental artistic research, the results of which can be applied in the fields of architecture, design, space-related artistic practices, art pedagogy, philosophy, art theory, as well as critical and cultural studies.

Contingent Agencies The artistic research project Contingent Agencies investigates how atmospheres and moods-those subtle, fleeting, and intangible forms of presence-come into being. It focuses on the agencies, these subtile forces that enable such atmospheres to emerge. These presences are all-encompassing, unstable, and difficult to grasp, yet they play a fundamental role in artistic and creative practices, shaping perception, interaction, and expression. Guiding question: How do atmospheres arise? Which forces enable or constrain them, and how do they interact? To explore these complex and intertwined processes, the project applied a cross-disciplinary approach, combining artistic practice, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, and natural sciences. Research was conducted in dialogue with a team of internationally renowned experts, ensuring multiple perspectives informed the investigation and supported a rich, nuanced understanding. Objectives were to generate knowledge about enabling forces, develop innovative methodologies for artistic research, and design effective formats for sharing and engaging results with diverse audiences. Methodology involved a broad series of case studies-so-called "Þing" structures-spatio-temporal units where practices of notation, reflection, and participation were enacted. These units connected researchers, methods, and strategies across defined times and spaces, enabling a non-reductive exploration of how atmospheres emerge and transform. Results include multiple publications, most notably a comprehensive open-access book published by Hatje Cantz, accompanied by an extensive online archive documenting texts, drawings, photographs, diagrams, sound recordings, and video stills. The methodology was iteratively tested in numerous workshops and confirmed as clear, adaptable, and effective for investigating complex phenomena in artistic research. Impact: Contingent Agencies is a best-practice example of cross-disciplinary foundational research using artistic methods. Its findings are relevant across architecture, design, site-specific art, pedagogy, philosophy, and cultural studies. The project established a knowledge compendium and database that, especially in times of multiple crises, fosters awareness of relationality, environmental perception, and engagement with more-than-human forces. The tools and practices developed cultivate ecological sensitivity, heighten perceptual awareness of complex situations, and open new epistemological perspectives for research and creative practice. The project has also resulted in international exhibitions, presentations, symposia, and the creation of multiple research artifacts, making its insights and methodologies accessible to wider academic, artistic, and public audiences.