Slow Down Corner

In the oh-so-bustling foyer, there's always something going on. In one corner, an AI Poem Booth; in another, poets signing books. That's why it can be so nice to unwind from all the different stimuli and retreat to our Slow Down Corner.

Carmen José and Monse Patrón, experienced creative facilitators, will be hosting this corner with their project “Caracolear” an approach to learn from snails (caracoles in Spanish) slowing down through creative collective activities. They will bring proposals to the slow down table to decompress and digest all the information while crafting poems on different materials hands on. There will be noise-cancelling headphones and cozy pillows on a carpet for those in need of low stimuli space.

Carmen José (she/they) is an illustrator, educator and activist with an MA at the Kunsthochschule Kassel (Germany) in Visual Communication with focus on Illustration and editorial Design. She is interested in questioning the reproduction of visual stereotypes, with focus on embodied processes. In her work, she aims to facilitate spaces for dialogue and coming together. In 2014, they initiated together with Kathi Seemann the project Papiercafé, a multifunctional collective space for Self-publishing & Café. She joined the independent publishing house Rotopol as co-publisher and author in 2016. A year later in 2017, they worked as part of the Aneducation team of documenta14 in Kassel and Athens (Greece). In October 2018 they moved to Rotterdam (Netherlands) for an artist residency at BAD Foundation and later on at NAC Foundation in the Wielewaal where they worked on a experimental research around critical thinking in visual education thanks to the research grant O&O from CBK Rotterdam. In July 2020 she initiated together with Kamiel Verschuren (NAC) the Growing Space in the Wielewaal neighbourhood of Rotterdam. A proposal for a social and cultural place from and for neighbours and artists in the form of a greenhouse to visit from outside 24/7 and keep safe distance for covid while redistributing cultural funding during times of lockdown. Since November 2020 they are a teacher and researcher in the Illustration and Social Practice departments at WDKA Art University in Rotterdam.

Monse Patrón utilizes her international experiences in events and cultural projects. She is passionate about organizing creative experiences while promoting diversity and inclusion in her work. She enjoys bringing ideas to life, pushing boundaries, and exploring innovation.