The art of networking in a non hierarchical manner (2007)

I have been working for the Kids’ Guernica project, an international children’s peace mural project as a coordinator since 1996. More than 120 peace murals were created in 40 different countries in these ten years. Our flexible network of connecting each workshop site led to the huge success of this project which has spread all over the world.

Here are several interesting features in the networking.

1) Non-hierarchical networking

To avoid top-down control in networking, the Kids’ Guernica project has no director to control the whole project but anyone can develop a workshop in his/her own way. The structure of this network seems similar to the Internet system. In the Internet, there is no top computer to control all other computers but each personal computer has equal power to take the initiative.

Many information technology specialists point out the importance of non hierarchical structure of the Internet. They explain: In the previous computer communication system, any message had to be received through a main computer to control subordinate computers. Theoretically, the system required connecting the main computer directly to others; however it was almost impossible to connect all computers in the world one by one.

By contrast, the Internet applied a totally different idea just like railway networks. Railway networks include different railway companies. People can reach their far destinations even across the borders by changing trains of different railways which are independently operated. If someone has to move from X station to Y station, there exist so many routes to reach Y station including detours. Of course, everybody wants to go through the shortest route. However, if some accident happens in the shortest route, it is possible to use different routes. It is the same as the Internet. The Internet is not structured to connect each personal computer one by one to the main computer but alternatively to use existing different networks. As a result, this revolutionary idea enabled the Internet to connect each personal computer all over the world.

The Kids’ Guernica project is based on the similar idea of this non hierarchical structure. The important role of international committee is not to control other groups or organizations which want to realize the Kids’ Guernica workshops but to coordinate them by indicating routes to their aims. If this project applied a rigid hierarchical network, it could not develop so worldwide to create more than 120 peace murals in 40 different countries. In this project, each group has its own initiative to organize a Kids’ Guernica workshop. The freedom given to participants could motivate them to work for this project more actively.

Interoperability is also a key concept in the Internet. Interoperability means the way of operation sharing with minimum codes. The Kids’ Guernica project also has a very simple rule: “To create a peace painting on a Guernica size canvas.” Besides this rule, there is no specific formal rule of participation, such as participants’ age limitation. The minimized rule brings flexibility in activities and it gives more freedom to participants. Consequently, this idea can encourage them to work hard for the project.

2) Face to face relationship

Cultural networking is not connecting cables but expanding human connections and facilitating mutual relations. The Internet is a very convenient tool to maintain networks. However, not only such a virtual communication but also face to face relationship is essential to enrich networks.

An international project like Kids’ Guernica usually requires making a master plan before starting. The master plan may include the total number of participating countries, the total budget to carry out the workshops, and so forth. However, the Kids’ Guernica project has been developing differently. The first workshop was held in the United States. The American peace painting was sent to Japan and inspired Japanese children to create another new peace painting. One of the organizers told me about this project and I introduce it to my Nepalese artist friend and he organized the Kids’ Guernica workshop in Kathmandu, then an Indian artist was invited to the exhibition and he introduced it to his Italian artist friend. In such a way, this project has been spreading worldwide. Compared to virtual communication, there are smiles and tears in face to face interaction. As far as culture is not for technology but for humans, it is necessary to keep a balance between virtual IT communication and face to face actual relationship in networking.

3) Networking as an artistic action

In the Kids’ Guernica project, the process of making connections and expanding networks is an important part of the activities. If we use our imagination and creativity, the process of networking can be transformed into an artistic action or poetical action. As shown in an analogy with the Internet, flexibility is also a key factor to activate the network. In this regard, the structure of network needs a kind of flexibility which can bring freedom to stimulate our imagination and creativity in networking. Artistic or poetic action may give more joy and satisfaction to the network. Of course, compared to a hierarchical network, loosely connected flexible network may cause irresponsible commitment. However, the flexibility has its own strength and it will excel its weak points. It will be the best networking if a flexible network goes with a responsible commitment by artistic or poetic action.

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The art of networking in a non hierarchical manner (2007)