Grafting Utopia expands on Apparatus 22’s distinctive approach founded in January 2011 by current members Erika Olea, Maria Farcaș, Dragoș Olea together with Ioana Nemes (1979–2011).

Apparatus 22 is a collective of daydreamers, citizens of many realms, researchers, poetic activists and (failed) futurologists that works since 2015 between Bucharest, Brussels and SUPRAINFINIT utopian universe.

In their very diverse works – installations, performances, text based-shapes – reality is mixed with fiction and storytelling and all merge with a critical approach drawing knowledge & experience from design, sociology, literature and economics.

In the Reading Room, there is the video ‘On Naming as a Technology to See the World Differently. An Intermediate Report’ (2025). This video documents with an otherworldly touch the intricate processes employed by collective Apparatus 22 to coin names for art institutions in their ongoing Blank Auguri series (2015–present).

A hybrid of institutional critique ~ institution (re) building ~ grafting reality with drops of utopia, Apparatus 22’s peculiar methodology is examined through exhaustive research. An almost scientific grid of categories and questions is applied to three case studies: Suprainfinit Gallery, Triumf Amiria. Museum of Queer Culture, and nes•nor•nae space in space at Kunsthal Gent.

As part of this residency, the collective will hold the ‘Will you keep the lighthouse bright?’ activity with visitors, on the relationship with utopia. On 6 December, Apparatus 22 will present two performances: ‘How Close to Hold the Mirror?’ and ‘A Most Amazing Offer’.