Workshop for Non-Linear Architecture: Difference between revisions

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The '''Workshop for Non-Linear Architecture''' ('''WNLA''') was a group of experimental artists and [[Psychogeography|Psycho geographerspsychogeographers]]. The group was active in parts of [[United Kingdom|Great Britain]] and [[Glasgow]] during the 1990s. Based on the urban practices of the [[Paris]]-based [[Lettriste Internationale]] (1952–1957), the workshop focused on developing the [[Lettrism|Lettrist]] theory of [[Unitary Urbanism]]. The development of the theory was done through physical research and behavioral intervention.

The artist, [[Ralph Rumney]] (1934-2002), who had known many of the original Parisian leaders, participated in one of the groups derived in London in 1995. He is credited with bringing the activities of the workshop to a wider audience. The workshop appears to have disbanded shortly after the release of the fourth and final issue of its journal ''Viscosity''. The journal is now infamous for having been selected by the [[K Foundation]] to announce their 23-year ban on all artistic practices.

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British cultural commentator and activist [[Stewart Home]] became a champion of their unrestrained adventurism, including excerpts from the journal and having an alluring taste of the type of works undertaken. These were published in a series of edited collections by Serpent's Tail.

"The Joker, the Incidental Game of Urban Poker", was printed in "Mind Invaders". It, describes a game of poker played between cities from playing cards found in the street. "St. Andrews Arena", which appeared in the collection "[[Suspect Device]]". It, narrates one particular derivation that took place in [[Glasgow]] in 1993. Other references to the workshop's activities have appeared in articles by Home, notably in the journal ''Variant''.<ref>Home, Stewart. "[https://articles.bplans.com/theres-no-success-like-failure/ There's no success like failure]", ''Variant'', Volume 2 Number 1 (Winter 1996), p18 Home, Stewart. "Mondo Mythopoesis", ''Variant'', Volume 2 Number 2 (Spring 1997), p7]</ref>

==History==

{{More citations needed section|date=March 2021}}

During its 2-year 'Psycho geographical Survey of Glasgow' (1992–1994), the group concentrated on improving the relationship between the [[Lettrism|Letterist]] (and later [[Situationist International|Situationist]]) techniques of "taken" and "built" situations. The outcome, described in the essay "Programmed and Constructed Drifting; the Event Architectures of [[Unitary urbanism#:~:text=Unitary urbanism (UU) was the,International between 1953 and 1960.|Unitary Urbanism]]" (''Viscosity'' No.3 Glasgow, Jan 1994), highlighted the unnecessary separation of these two tools. The techniques were initially borrowed from the writing techniques of the [[Oulipo]], where the flow of an otherwise free ''[[dérive]]'' is directed in its apparent randomness (and given an element of control over its protagonists) by applying [[parameter]]s. The behavioral [[algorithm]]s employed by WNLA range from elaborate "drifting machines" that are carried across the land and deployed at intervals to generate repeating instructions for movement (non-linear feedback loops), to the simple "anywhere" hitchhiking sign, a regular sight in the summer of 1993, being held aloft on the pavement of the bridge on The M8's Great Western Road.

Artist [[Ralph Rumney]] (1934–2002) is credited with bringing the workshop's activities to a wider audience. He was acquainted with many of the original Parisian Letterists and participated in one of the group's ''dérives'' in London in 1995. It was assumed that WNLA had disbanded shortly after releasing the fourth and final issue of its journal ''Viscosity'', which is now infamous for being selected by the K Foundation to announce its 23-year ban on all artistic practice. However, the journal suggests that the temporary ban applied to the K Foundation and WNLA itself, with the group committing to stop intervening in their activities entirely until 2018.