Spatial Dialogue

Spatial Dialogue – Making Power Visible in Space

Origin & Method Spatial Dialogue originated during a fellowship at ETH Zurich (Department of Architecture), where the curriculum needed enrichment with physical, embodied approaches to urban transformation processes. Together with global health researcher Nataly Ba, I developed a workshop to make power dynamics tangible. This exercise invites participants to physically position themselves and other actors (humans and non-humans) in space. Who stands central? Who is excluded? Where is the blockage? What are the needs? This 'choreographed analysis' reveals hierarchies, needs, and relationships in a single glance, making them open for discussion.

Application: Peace and War A recent application was during the lecture evening 'Peace and War' at Theater Ins Blau (June 2026). Amidst rising defense budgets and escalating conflicts (from Ukraine to Palestine), three experts – Soheila Najand, Wendela de Vries, and Lidija Zelović – challenged dominant narratives on security. Surrounding the lectures was a Spatial Dialogue exercise where the audience physically took positions relative to the presented themes. This spatial positioning formed the basis for a dialogue on the question: "What is true security?" The tool activated the audience, making complex geopolitical viewpoints tangible and discussable.

Other Applications The method has also been used as a Diversity and Inclusion Training module at the ArtEZ Music Theatre Academy and Stichting Ruimtekoers.