MILAN AND THE UNPREDICTABLE

performance
c/o La Pelota Jai Alai, via Palermo 10, Milan (MM2 Moscova)

Free entrance subject to availability.
RESERVATION RECOMMENDED, on Eventbrite

The performance will take place from 5 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
from 16.00 it is possible to join at any time until the end of the performance

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The city has restarted. It is moving. It looks ahead. She has to do, to move forward, to plan, to take care of others and herself. It is always her: progressive, generous, activist, entrepreneurial, international, obnoxious, snobbish, exaggerated. The city regenerates and consumes, operates from below and builds high, dismantles crime and tradition. It is finance and real estate speculation. It is branding. Bike lanes, culture, ethical food, new neighborhoods, housing prices up 40 percent, uninhabitable public housing, 700,000 cars coming in every day, ever-increasing commuters, off-market student beds. A washing machine that centrifuges its inhabitants. It attracts them, welcomes them and after 15 years spits out 60 percent of them. But the city is a complex system. If, in physics, a complex system is defined as a whole that acts and evolves according to a logic that cannot be reduced to the sum of its parts, Milan must be seen in its molecular tangle composed of multiple elements: physical, social, economic, cultural, human, all closely connected and intertwined. A complex system. A complex organization that is self-determining and determines an evolution of individual and collective choices.

Conceived by Hannah Hurtzig and presented for the first time in 2004, The Market for Useful Knowledge and Non-Knowledge was rappresented 34 times in the countries Germany, Poland, Turkey, Latvia, France, Israel, Finland, Colombia; Great Britain and many others. 

It is an artistic event, a wide-ranging participatory performance, a place for the exchange, observation and production of knowledge that combines the intimacy of the tête-à-tête with the spectacularity of the theatrical installation, creating a multidisciplinary, multidimensional and hallucinatory space of knowledge, evoking what Milan is and could become.

In a large space called the Arena with the atmosphere of a reading room and market noise, experts are called upon to offer some of their knowledge – obvious, irreverent, unexpected and surprising – in 30 minutes of one-to-one conversation with the audience. Their knowledge provides an encyclopaedic insight into the selected topic. These are urgent topics of urban and universal interest, different for each venue.

When entering, the audience is given an encyclopaedia, a guide to the event that is useful for understanding the subject matter and expert knowledge. Yet, the encyclopaedia – faced with the wild taxonomy of cultural, artistic, scientific, practical and common-sense areas of knowledge, disciplinary and non-disciplinary, recognised and clandestine – always fails in its task of guidance.

It is in front of a Check-in – manned by uniformed hosts and hostesses, the administrative stage and bureaucratic heart of the evening’s organisation – that the public queues up to book a dialogue for the symbolic sum of 1€. This is not a market organised according to the principle of rational choice, but rather a roulette: customers queue to book a dialogue, but 60% of them are persuaded by the salesman to book something or someone else. If the customer is not satisfied with his purchase, he can turn to a Complaints and Grievances Desk to express his disappointment. These moments of bureaucratic efficiency (or Kafkaesque bureaucracy) offer further moments of involvement and absurdity.

The one-to-one conversations are simultaneously observed by the audience sitting on the bleachers around the Arena, who can tune in to one of the Market Radio channels to hear what is being said. A multiple-choice experience is created, in which each spectator chooses whether to participate or observe or do both.

The Knowledge and Non-Knowledge Market is an interactive installation space for learning and unlearning. Here knowledge and non-knowledge are staged and in play. One will witness a proliferation of speech acts, punctuated to the rhythm of administrative time. All possibilities are open to what is said and heard, as long as three simple rules are observed: Arrive at the table on time! Wait for the gong, the conversation starts with the gong! The expert has the first word! You have 30 minutes.

The Market of Knowledge and Non-Knowledge transforms the performative nature of all social interaction into captivating theatre. A strongly desired project that marks the arrival and restart of ZONA K’s 10 years, the synthesis of a will and a vision of our building out-of-format participatory theatre projects.

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HOW TO PARTICIPATE

1. Access and booking of conversations with expert(s) from 4 p.m. onwards.
   The cost of each conversation (duration 30 minutes) is €1.
   .
   CHECK-IN
   Booking from 16.00: ROUND 1A 17.00>17.30 | ROUND 1B 17.35>18.05
   Booking from 17.00: ROUND 2A 18.15>18.45 | ROUND 2B 18.50>19.20
   Booking from 18.00: ROUND 3A 19.30>20.00 | ROUND 3B 20.05>20.35
   .
2. It is possible to follow some of the conversations on the RADIO DEL MERCATO channels.
   Headphones are available at the entrance in exchange for an ID card.
   LANGUAGES
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   Conversations in Italian, English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Tunisian dialect, Chinese, Romanian, LIS.
   For more information on the project www.mobileakademie-berlin.com | www.zonak.it

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EXPERTS

Pietro Bagnoli, Architect; Jada Bai, Professor of Chinese culture and cultural mediator; Yraida Bailon, Caregiver; Christine Ballarin, Head Of Planning And Valorisation Of The Hydro Resources Of The Municipality Of Milan; Gianni Barbacetto, Journalist and writer; Carlo Berizzi, Associate professor of Architectural And Urban Composition – University Of Pavia; Ales Bonaccorsi, Creative director National Museum Of Science And Technology “Leonardo Da Vinci”; Paola Bonini, Expert in digital media, activist of “Sai che puoi”; Lucia Borso and Teresa De Martin, Co-founders of “So.De – Social Delivery”; Gabriella Bottini, Neurologist, neuropsychologist, ordinary professor of Psychophysiology; Rabii Brahim e Anna Serlenga, Co-founders of “Corps Citoyen”; Marco Caccianiga, Botanic; Ilenya Camozzi, Cultural sociologist; Davide Carnevali, Dramaturg and theater author; Ivan Carozzi, Journalist and writer; Anna Casali, Real estate consultant; Arianna Censi, Councillor to the Mobility of the Municipality of Milan; Fabio Cherstich, Director and set designer; Michele Ifigenia Colturi, Choreographer and guest Airbnb; Mimmo Cosenza, Expert on AI; Edoardo Croci, Professor at Bocconi University and director of the Sustainable Urban Regeneration Lab; Tobia D’Onofrio, Cultural agitator, music and controculture enthusiast, journalist; Marianna D’Ovidio, Urban sociologist; Giovanni Damiani, Architect; Danilo De Biasio, Journalist and director of  “Fondazione Diritti Umani”; Elio De Capitani, Actor, director and artistic co-director of “Teatro dell’Elfo”; Nicola Del Corno, Associate professor of  History of Political Thought; Andrea Di Mario, Headmaster; Alberto “Abo” Di Monte, Social and geographical agitator, librarian, author; Linda Di Pietro, Cultural manager; Jacopo M. DustyEye, Time traveller; Progetto Giovani dell’Istituto dei Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano; Giordana Ferri, Architect; Francesco Floris, Journalist; Silvio Garattini, Founder and president of the “Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche – IRCCS Mario Negri” (Farmalogical Research Insitute); Elena Gianni, Architect, “Mutuo Soccorso” member; Sandro Greblo, Bicycle delivery man and author; Igor Guida, Scientific director for “Stripes Digitus Lab” at MIND Milano Innovation District; Cecilia Guida, Art curator and critic; Eiman Hussein Adam, Activist; Isabella Inti, Urban Architect – landscape technician; Michel Koffi Fadonougbo, Griot and activist; Alessandra Kustermann, Gynecologist and “SVS Donna Aiuta Donna” President; Chiara Lainati, Anthropologist and founding member of “Super”; Federico Leoni, Philosopher; Claudio Longhi, Director of “Piccolo Teatro di Milano”; Alessandro Maniaci, Lawyer and ASL interpreter; Alina Marazzi, Director; Gabriele Antonio Mariani, Engineer and architect; Michele Masneri, Journalist; Marco Minoja, General director “Fondazione Scuole Civiche Milano”; Liliana Moro, Artist; Azzurra Muzzonigro, Independent researcher, “Association Sex and the City” co-founder; Giacomo Negri, Activist and inhabitant of the neighborhood; Bertram Niessen, Researcher, design engineer, professor, author and advisor, “cheFare” president; Maurizio Orlandella, Consultative gynecologist; Caterina Orsenigo, Journalist and writer; Giovanni Padula, Urban economist, specialist in the creative and cultural sectors; Giacomo Papi, Writer, journalist and television author; Federico Parolotto, Transport planner; Diego Piemontese, Theater director, activist, stand-up comedian; Paolo Pileri, Professor of urban planning and design at the Politecnico di Milano; Milena Piscozzo, ICC Head teacher and writer; Plata, Artist and rapper; Carlo Polidori, Zoologist; Oliviero Ponte di Pino, Curator of the “Bookcity Milano” programme; Ulisse Romanò | Demetra, Biologist, actor and drag queen; David Röttgen, Environmental lawyer; Gianluca Ruggieri, Environmental engineer; Giovanni Scirocco, Professor of contemporary history, Università degli Studi di Bergamo; Rahel Sereke, Urban planner, politician, activist; Davide Steccanella, Lawyer and essayist; Sonia Stefanizzi, Ordinary professor of Sociology and director of the Department of Sociology and Social Research at the Università Degli Studi di Milano – Bicocca; Gregorio Taccola, Doctor of research in history; Luciana Tavernini, Historian and writer; Alberto Tavolaro, Student and institute representative of the “Liceo Carducci” di Milano; Jacopo Tondelli, Journalist and writer, founder of “Gli Stati Generali”; Lucia Tozzi, Journalist and independent scholar; Alberto Vailati, Physicist and professor of Physics of Matter at Università degli Studi di Milano; Franco Vaio, Physicist and author; Fulvio Vanacore, Artist and tarologist; Serena Vitucci, Activist; Sara Zambotti, Radio presenter and university professor; Cino Zucchi, Architect

research and dramaturgy Federica Di Rosa, Valentina Kastlunger e Valentina Picariello
with the collaboration of Silvia Rigon e Eliana Rotella
and the contribution of Renata Viola
with the participation of Federica Bruscaglioni, Valeria Casentini, Gabriele De Risi, Leo Djavidnia, Anna Doneda, Philippe Hochleichter, Fabio Lastella, Nicole Lentin, Sathya Nardelli, Silvia Orlandi, Elena Pagallo, Leda Peccatori, Lorenzo Piccolo, Silvia Rigon, Eliana Rotella
production manager Luca De Marinis
organisation and production Federica Bruscaglioni e Leda Peccatori
set design Marco Muzzolon e Marianna Cavallotti
head of beauty and costume design Christian Fritzenwanker
make up & styling Elizabeth Fogel
communication Silvia Orlandi
graphics Leonardo Mazzi – Neo Studio
press office Renata Viola
administration and fund raising Valeria Casentini
licenser Hannah Hurtzig e Mobile Akademie Berlin
licensee ZONA K Milano
a project by Mobile Akademie Berlin
produced by ZONA K Milano
with the support of MIC and Fondazione Cariplo