otherswere

Otherswere is a multidisciplinary art and research platform that investigates memory, marginality, and collective identity through contemporary art, scholarly writing, and digital media. It operates as a loose network of artists, researchers, and curators who collaborate across borders to produce exhibitions, publications, and online projects. The platform emphasizes open access and participatory practices.

Origins trace to a collaborative initiative formed in the mid-2010s by a group of artists and scholars who sought to give voice to overlooked histories. It began with site-specific installations and small press publications and gradually expanded to online archives and international residencies.

Core activities include rotating residencies, site-responsive installations, an online archive, and a publishing imprint that releases artist books and critical essays. Projects commonly address the social dimensions of memory, place, and identity, often employing archival research, fieldwork, and collaborative storytelling.

Reception: The project is noted for its accessible approach and its commitment to amplifying marginal narratives within contemporary art discourse. While not tied to a single style or medium, otherswere is recognized for its method of combining reflective research with experimental practice. The name has entered circulation in discussions of memory studies and participatory art as a case study of collective authorship.