Gorvy Lecture Theatre, Battersea , 12 May 2022 SoAH Research Presents: Direct Urbanism by transparadiso (Barbara Holub/ Paul Rajakovics) In this talk transparadiso will consider recent projects that aim to transgress social divides and political borders through critical urban interventions. The development of specific artistic tools and strategies will be explored in relation to the question of what it might mean to produce spaces for empathetic exchange. Through projects such as ‘Times of Dilemma“ (Valletta18, Malta), “The Third World Congress of the Missing Things“ (NORMAL–Direct Urbanism x 4, Graz Culture Year 2020) and “Harbour for Cultures“ (Trieste/ Italy, 2018 >) transparadiso will discuss ideas around what they term Direct Urbanism and Silent Activism to consider how these critical approaches to shared social space have been developed and deployed across the different areas of their intersectional and transdisciplinary practice. Barbara Holub and Paul Rajakovics founded transparadiso in 1999. They received the Austrian National Art Award (2018), Otto-Wagner-Urban Design Prize (2007). Barbara Holub was president of the Secession Vienna (2006-2007), is a member of the Innovation Fund for Culture in Public Space, Stuttgart; lecturing at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. Paul Rajakovics is a member of the editorial board of dérive – magazine for urban research, Vienna, and lecturing at the Vienna University of Technology. Currently Holub directs the flagship project „WE PARAPOM!“ (Chemnitz 2025/ European Capital of Culture).