IN.TENDER.ACTIONS - PERFORMING RADICAL TENDERNESS IN PUBLIC SPACE

Towards who are you tender? Are you?

Public spaces are increasingly privatized, serving a social paradigm of individualization, separation and exclusivity. Tenderness is a specific quality of being and interacting with each other, that “perceives the bonds that connect us, the similarities and sameness between us“ (Tokarczuk, 2019).

The concept of radical tenderness, defined by artists such as Şeyda Kurt and Dani D’Emilia, aims to question the societal conditions of tenderness far beyond our intimate relationships, in order to transform our social interactions based on affection and care. Through participatory performance art practices, that focus on intercorporeality and vulnerability as a space for collective agency, the project aims to research how radical tenderness can be performed as a social movement in public space, that radically opposes the existing social paradigm with the creation of a more tender social fabric.

Therefore, the methodology “In.tender.actions“ proposes a series of artistic interventions, based on collective writing, moving and performing in public space, that radically questions how we interact with each other and offers aesthetic and poetic approaches to practice radical tenderness in public space.

SPECIAL THANKS

Tenderness is something that you create together. Especially when it’s radically. Therefore and with all my heart I would like to thank David Limaverde, my amazing coach & friend, for his feedback, support and inspirations along the way! My fellow peers, for their questions and thoughts, their support and creativity (you go pirates!). Xenia, Ulla, Heleen, Danae, Falk and Liesbeth, who make this program as enriching as it is! Greta, for the exchange and uncountable zoom talks (sister, I kiss our intellect), my family for their unconditional love and support. And last but not least my colleagues from PELE, for holding my back and believing in me. Thank you all and stay tender.