The artistic planner and the planning artist in participatory practices in urban development

Abstract: A brush of paint on a grey compound wall can mean so much more than simply an addition of colour. It can meanan appropriation of public space, a shared public space enclosed by a wall now ‘owned’ by someone. It can meanan arisen conflict leading to debate about the right to use public space.The Wall Project is a Mumbai based beautification project that uses paint and outdoor walls to brighten uptheir city. The Urban Typhoon workshop is an activity set up in self-evolving neighbourhoods where municipalinterference is scarce. During the workshop urban practitioners – such as architects, planners, designers andforemost artist - from outside are invited to “brainstorm collectively and produce new projections, alternativevisions, ideas and solutions for the neighbourhood”.In the contemporary discourse of participatory art practices and participatory and collaborative processes inurban development insights of the two projects above can be gained. Critique raised against both practices areshort-term engagement, tokenism and an authority position seemingly impossible to avoid.Perhaps a way towards an understanding can be found in hybridity and thoughts of third ways when discussingparticipatory and collaborative practices in unequal environments?