Ourspace

Ourspace is a participatory performance that zooms in on the virtual and the physical space between people, their online and offline identity and social encounters. 

Ourspace is a quirky social experiment and performance that choreographs the bodies of participants using a chatbot in WhatsApp. The performance tests the boundaries of space in our hyperconnected world. It’s a productive way to reflect on the seemingly normalized things we do in virtual social networks like following, zooming and liking -- and to highlight the embodied experience of these media practices.

The audience is guided by an artificial chatbot companion on WhatsApp, sharing stories and responding with assignments that translate online social habits into physical movements. These storylines can vary from simple actions “If you think somebody looks interesting, tap them on the shoulder” to more intimate actions “Observe your new friend  closely: smell them, feel them”.

Ourspace is performed at various culture and technology events. It is also used as part of our research toolkit for client projects and internal research.