Giulia Fiocca : Stalker Group
- Becky
- Feb 17, 2016
- 2 min read
Following the Interim crit on Thursday, Giulia decided to stay around and give us a small talk and presentation on the work and projects of Stalker Group, based in Rome, Italy.
With their name referencing the well-known Andrej Tarkovsky film ‘Stalker’ (1979), this architecture collective emerged in 1995 in the attempt to create an urban art lab with the collaboration of people from a variety of backgrounds in art, cinema, philosophy and architecture. Through the organisation of workshops, explorations and seminars, Stalker focused on investigating social and urban issues through the exploration of undefined urban territories: an ethos that still holds strong today.
With parallels to Francesco Careri’s Psycho-geographical Derive, Julia described the wandering workshops and immersive research trips that Stalker lead in the Roman countryside in an attempt to reconnect people with their city. The round-trip lasts between two and four days with participants camping each night: stopping, exploring and meeting people along the way.
A particularly interesting walk Giulia described, took participants on an ‘edible journey,’ following the trail of public fruit trees, mapping their presence and collecting the fruit. The first journey traced olive trees that grow on public land, collecting the fruit and turning it into olive oil, this project proved successful in bringing the community together for a common cause and created a new appreciation for the fruit bearing trees of the city. In light of this positivity, Stalker reproduced the edible journey, this time following orange trees and making marmalade from the bitter fruit. The project highlighted social issues of immigration and integration, and was used in a positive way to give back to those affected.
A fascinating presentation and discussion particularly pertinent to our current projects in Poble Nou, Julia opened our eyes to the power of collaboration and community engagement, with lessons of how to bring to light social and urban issues that seem invisible.
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