Kaarteesta

Kaarteesta is a fictional form of interactive street art described in this article. It blends card-based procedures with live performance and audience participation, yielding improvised narratives controlled by a system of playing cards. The term is not used to denote a real tradition but to illustrate a genre of speculative art.

Origins and concept: In kaarteesta, artists organize performances around decks of index cards or custom cards. Each card carries a directive—an action, a character, a location, or a constraint on movement. Participants select cards in turns or collectively reveal them, guiding the sequence of events and visual outcomes. Space is treated as a partner, with streets, squares, or galleries becoming stages.

Techniques and aesthetics: Performances emphasize immediacy, improvisation, and tactile interaction with cards as objects. Visuals often include hand-drawn symbols, typographic fragments, and found materials carried by performers or handed to bystanders. The process foregrounds negotiation, consent, and shared authorship, producing ephemeral works that leave little permanent trace.

Reception and influence: Within speculative discourse, kaarteesta is seen as a bridge between participatory art and game design. Critics note its potential to democratize performance and broaden audience engagement, while others warn of exclusion risks in open public settings and the need for clear safety guidelines and accessibility considerations. It is commonly discussed in essays on scenography, urban culture, and the ethics of participatory practices.