"Thinking without practice is not useful"
Research
In 1968, the Antiuniversity of London emerged as an unprecedented site of intellectual, artistic, and social experimentation. Co-founded by figures such as R.D. Laing, Joseph Berke, Stuart Hall, and Juliet Mitchell, this collective laboratory blended critical thinking and alternative practices in an attempt to rethink education and study. Elena Lespes Muñoz, Head of Public Programs at Bétonsalon, has begun a research into this history, aiming to explore forms of informal education at play in contemporary artistic practices.
As the recipient of the 2025 curatorial research trip grant from
@fluxus_art_projects , Elena traveled to London to consult the Antiuniversity archives, as well as to Derry to meet with the team at
@voidartcenter and exchange on how such collective experiences might (or might not) transform institutions and rekindle a sensitive, hands-on democracy rooted in everyday action.
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En 1968, lâAntiuniversity of London Ă©merge comme un lieu radical de savoir, de vie et dâĂ©changes. Co-fondĂ© par des figures telles que R.D. Laing, Joseph Berke, Stuart Hall ou Juliet Mitchell, ce laboratoire collectif mĂȘlait pensĂ©e critique et pratiques alternatives, dans une tentative pour repenser lâĂ©ducation et lâĂ©tude. Elena Lespes Muñoz, responsable des publics Ă BĂ©tonsalon, a entamĂ© une recherche sur cette histoire dans la perspective dâexplorer les formes dâĂ©ducation informelle Ă lâoeuvre dans les pratiques artistiques contemporaines.
Lauréate de la bourse curatoriale de recherche
@fluxus_art_projects en 2025, Elena a pu se rendre Ă Londres pour consulter les archives de lâAntiuniversity, ainsi quâĂ Derry au
@voidartcenter pour Ă©changer avec lâĂ©quipe sur la maniĂšre dont ces expĂ©riences collectives peuvent (ou non) transformer les institutions et raviver une dĂ©mocratie sensible, ancrĂ©e dans le faire quotidien ?
With the support of
@fluxus_art_projects &
@voidartcentre
đž 1 & 2: Anti-universityâs reader, Jakob Jakobsen,
@maydayrooms
3: Bob Crobbingâs visual poetry, Antiuniversity magazine
4: Comic strip, Red Rat review, n°2, 1970
5 & 6: Wall mapping and arpentage session at
@voidartcenter