This project has been in development for quite some time and has gone through several iterations.
The first one is the Anthropology for Kids Workshop. It’s based on various books in the Anthropology for Kids series but developed into a collective version. I’ve conducted it in Austria, Iceland, Germany, London, Cuba, and other places.
The workshops were done on A4/A3 pieces of paper by groups of kids aged 6 to 10. The results were always impressive because, while the materials were slightly pre-designed, children are natural artists. They added their own thoughts and ideas and made extraordinary final projects.
Beyond the artistic outcome, the process also introduced kids to collective decision-making, which was quite rare for most participants—except for those from Cuba.
After the final workshop of this version in Korea this summer, I worked on a new one with a larger tablecloth instead of paper. This one is printed on reusable, plastic-like materialUnlike the original paper version, drawings can be wiped off and redrawn, adding new layers over time.
Right now, we have held two tablecloths-based assemblies in New York and one in Amsterdam.
My main concern is that the second version is harder to control artistically because it’s much bigger. The larger space involves more participants, many of whom are not skilled artists. As a result, the outcome is visually chaotic. I’m not sure if that’s a problem or not, but for now, let’s just consider this a second type of visual assembly that we’ve tested in multiple locations.
The third iteration is something I’ve been developing with Leo. It’s called Visual Assembly as a Playground. The Museum of Care has been working on playground-related projects for a long time, and I’m trying to merge that concept with visual assemblies.
The idea is not to create a typical playground but to design a space where visual assemblies can take place. One possible approach is to use chalkboard-like material, similar to school boards, which is cheap and widely available. This would allow people to draw, erase, and modify the space freely.
Around this central area, we could add modular elements, such as:
- Nets, hammocks, and swings that can be rearranged to suit different needs.
- Structures that can be adjusted, swapped, or reconfigured based on how people choose to use the space.
This flexibility would ensure that the playground evolves organically through collective input and interaction, rather than being a fixed, predetermined environment.
The pilot of this project will take place in Kenya in June 2025, where we will work with local communities to build a version of this adaptable playground.
But what I’m thinking about now—and why I’m asking for your input—is something even bigger:
I want to move beyond children’s artistic projects and into a more explicitly political space.
That’s where the Visual Assembly for Units of Care comes in.
This project references an assembly that we planned with David Graeber, which never happened because he passed away before the scheduled date. Instead, we ended up organizing a carnival, hosted by the same group that initially invited us.
Care Units, or Units of Care, is meant to be less of a drawing project and more of a large-scale visual public art initiative.
I imagine printing a huge map—possibly 10 meters wide—to cover a public space like Zuccotti Park. Along with it, we would print stickers, some blank and some pre-designed, allowing participants to map out what they see as care. This information would then be transferred to a digital map, with multiple layers of data visualization.
The inspiration came from a Brooklyn project where residents turned a broken fire hydrant into a small pond. Officials tried to remove it, calling it a “fire hazard,” which only drew more attention. The project gained media coverage, and people across the city started painting graffiti aquariums as a reference.
This raised a key question:
What if, instead of just one intervention, there were many?
- Birdhouses, free book exchanges, community fridges—initiatives that already exist but often remain isolated.
- A map that brings visibility to these spaces, helping people find, connect, and contribute.
- A tool for self-organization, making care initiatives easier to start and sustain.
Beyond mapping existing projects, we also want to map what doesn’t yet exist—a layer for speculative care units, where people can propose and visualize ideas for their communities. A book exchange might start with just one person, but with enough connections, it could turn into a neighborhood library.
The map would have three layers:
- Established Initiatives – Existing care-based projects, like free food distribution networks or local peace economies.
- Emerging Care Networks – Smaller, informal initiatives that are still taking shape.
- Imaginary Care Units – Ideas that haven’t yet been realized but could be.
The physical and digital map would work in tandem:
- In public spaces, large-scale maps would be printed, and people could add stickers to mark locations and ideas.
- Online, these stickers would be transferred to a shared, open-source map, allowing care networks to grow and connect across different regions.
This isn’t just about documentation—it’s about making care a visible, shared practice. Care already exists everywhere, but capitalism erases its language and spaces. By mapping it, we make it harder to ignore and easier to expand.
The goal is to create a decentralized, evolving map of care, where people can actively participate, share, and build on each other’s efforts.This project is a way to rethink how we relate to one another, shifting focus from traditional political organizing to practical, everyday actions that foster mutual support and resilience.
