Production of space and urban curation through strategy and tactics: spatio-cultural production practices by Darağaç collective

The processes of change and transformation in cities constitute the dynamism of the urban space. This dynamism depends on social, cultural, economic and political factors occurring in different periods. Therefore, the city is an organic formation that is constantly changing with its multi-layered structure. The transformation of this organic structure occurs with the reproduction of the urban space. Strategic and tactical actions have a dynamic role in placemaking process, which includes the reinterpretation and production of urban space. Strategy is considered as a comprehensive process planned and carried out by the superstructures and dominant ideologies in which different actors of the space production process from city to building scale and local governments are involved; while tactics are small-scale practices in which the city dwellers are more effective against the strategies. With tactical actions, a city dweller becomes an actor in the transformation process and a reader who can also analyze the city. Urban curation is one of the primary tactical actions for enabling the city dwellers to take an active role in this transformation process. Urban curation includes actions appropriating public art as a tool. In this framework, the aim of this study is to open up the concepts of placemaking and urban curation through the concepts of strategy and tactics. Within the scope of the thesis, Darağaç Collective's public art productions in İzmir Darağaç Region, known as Umurbey Mahallesi, are inquired. The social, cultural and political changes in the everyday life of the region are examined, and the impact of tactical and strategic actions on spatial production is discussed.