Peripheria x Cor (Agency of Amber)

Lesauskas, Mantas (2024) Peripheria x Cor (Agency of Amber). In: P/References of Design. Cumulus conference proceedings series, 1 . Cumulus Association, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest, Budapest, pp. 295-301. ISBN 978-952-7549-02-5

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Abstract

Peripheria x Cor (Agency of Amber) is a research project that delves into the intricate dynamics of global structures, focusing on the historical impact of binary thinking, particularly within colonialist systems. Rooted in the concept introduced by Jane Schneider, the project distinguishes between a core of urban consumers, a periphery altered by its role as a raw material supplier, and an outer margin indirectly influenced by innovations. Exploring the post-pandemic world, the study seeks a paradigm shift away from binary perspectives. The investigation delves into the historical role of dichotomy in geographical, economic, and political structures, with a particular emphasis on the amber route as a precursor to European polities. Challenging established perceptions, Peripheria x Cor adopts a post-humanistic phenomenological approach, rejecting human ontological primacy over material reality. The project engages artistic research methodologies, providing a structured and critical inquiry framework for artists to explore concepts and perspectives and foster innovation. The study focuses on amber as a foundation for interrogatory design research, aligning with the theory of material engagement, asserting the agency of inanimate objects. It argues that objects like amber possess a distinct agency, shaping human intentions, interactions, and cultural systems. Historical contexts, such as Lithuania's peripheral location on major trade routes and its evolution from Soviet occupation to colonial rule, are examined to understand the complexities of power dynamics and economic integration. As the research progresses, the project contends that the Global East occupies a unique position, being too rich to be part of the South yet too weak to be the center. The periphery, in this context, extends beyond geography to represent a space in history and culture. Addressing the colonial wound, the study emphasizes the need to consider colonial and imperial differences in global knowledge production and circulation, emphasizing the intertwining of the geopolitics of knowledge with the geopolitics of knowing. The creation of a new virtual earth serves as a symbolic space where global networks and local environments intersect, offering potential for new grounding. The study advocates for recognizing multiple virtual earths as sites for political alternatives, extra earthly findings, and journeys into cores and cosmos.

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