Sebastian

As anybody I wasn’t sure what to expect from this seminar. But as the deadline now looms around the corner I wish we had more time

This program (CADES) has been a challenge for me. Having lived and worked in 6 countries in the past 12 years there might be an attitude of experienced confidence others might find comes across a bit arrogant. Furthermore, having worked as a Director of different institutions instilled in me certain behavioural patterns that are difficult to shed indeed. Working as part of a student group was a challenge. But then again. I am not the only one with baggage. And as it turned out – the particular composition of this group turned out to be match indeed!

These last 5 months had me pondering about group processes and hierarchies as well.

Apart from the personal particularity that I tend to struggle with uncertainties our group dynamics were interesting. Everybody was reluctant to take the lead at the beginning. Each one was evaluating him/herself in the beginning – and it is curious that, in the end, the different role we took on in the group indeed correspond to those self-evaluated characteristics. And we managed to somehow end up with a group that is more than just the sum of its part. In the end there was one concept prevailing …

It is quite fascinating. One of the major atmospheric features we encountered was the notion of a family. The wellbeing of the people we encountered at GA – a wellbeing that has to be put in context to their presence right then right there and not in general and their respective history – seemed to generate certain contagious effects. Every time we left as a group we were to lively discuss what we just encountered. And then, with two weeks to go, or so, one of my colleague answered to a request made by me with: Yes Dad! Et voilà. There we had created our own small family.

Of course, it is tempting to say that such group coherence could have developed in any other project. But in this particular group with this particular topic working in this particular environment – there was a certain level of reciprocity. And if I am not mistaken: there always is!

Two words to Globe Aroma. In a way the surroundings and the atmosphere I encountered at Globe Aroma were a series of Déjà vu. I spend parts of my youth organising parties and events in former industrial spaces in Leipzig similar the the infrastructure in Brussels. My professional career then almost exclusively consisted of organising not only a team but also artistic exchange and dialogue. So while, with my left eye, I was somewhat trying to keep a certain anthropological perspective – with my right eye I was constantly making mental notes of things to improve. The printed advertisement material for ‘Se la fete’ for e.g. … with the picture slightly out if focus, the print pixelated ……. puhhh!

But then I figure – that is what this whole process is all about. This Master. This Seminar. This group. Keeping myself open. If I always do what I already know how to do it – I would never be more than I am now. And THAT is not acceptable.

Finally, there is Rowena of course. I get the distinct feeling that her own group boasted similar dynamics, that strong notion of ‘WE’. And of course, she is conveying such concepts as foundation for a good result. The result was that we never located her outside the group as supervising entity but rather as member of this group. I have to confess at this moment that I sometimes tried to slow down such process – because her job was and is: supervising tutor. The bottom line is: Rowena influenced this group. Positively. Big time!

And there I am. At the end of these very in-anthropological reflections indeed. As always. Such a process does not end because a schedule suggest it. The next visits to Globe Aroma are already planned. I offered to edit some texts for David, the Spanish journalist at GA. And Phenomenal invited us to this next concert …

It was quite a journey.