Edited by Doina Petrescu, Constantin Petcou, Nishat Awan
Paris, France: Atelier d'Architecture Autogérée/Peprav, 2010
Pages: 420
Dimensions: 6" x 8.25" x 1.25" Cover: soft cover with dust jacket that folds out to a double-sided poster
Binding: perfect bound
Process: offset
Color: full color throughout
Edition Size: unknown
ISBN:978-2-9530751-13

This beautiful, densely packed book is so full of information that it easily could have been 3 or 4 substantial books. It brings together a series of reflections and practices around issues of local and trans-local cultural production within different contexts in Europe, and elsewhere, prompted through the agency of a collaborative and networked project: Rhyzom.

All these cultures developed within local contexts are intrinsically related to political, economic, social and material aspects and to specific temporalities, spatialities, individual and collective histories and experiences. Like the whole Rhyzom project, the book is an attempt to create transversal links and connections within and across different local framings and to seize instances of the dynamic and complicated nature of notions of 'local' an 'culture' through multiple forms of practice, which address the critical condition of culture in contemporary society. In relations with 'local', 'trans-local', 'place' and 'culture', issues of conflict and contest, ecologies, politics and care practices, common and commonality, institutions and agencies are addressed.

The book is written by architects, artists, activists, curators, cultural workers, educators, sociologists, geographers and residents living in different rural and urban areas in Europe and is addressed to anyone concerned with the relation between culture, subjectivity, space and politics today.

The list of projects and topics presented in the book is open : the Rhyzom website provides the framework for further displays and possible collaborations.