Perceiving ourselves as part of the labyrinth,
instead of lost in it,
will unravel unexpected self-discoveries
Francesca Ferrando, The Art of Being Posthuman, 2023, p. 2
Labyrinth at low tide Okains Bay | Kāwatea, Banks Peninsula | Te Pātaka-o-Rākaihautū, New Zealand | Aotearoa. Photograph taken by Joanna Pascoe, 25 May 2024. Labyrinth designed by Stefano Rozzoni and Joanna Pascoe, drawn up by Anthony Pascoe, built by labyrinth passengers Grant Wylie, Helen Brown, Elizabeth Sugrue and Joanna Pascoe.
What is this project about?
The labyrinth is a powerful narrative motif that appears across cultures, time periods, and artistic forms. It carries a multitude of meanings—mythological, spiritual, symbolic, and aesthetic. Historically, labyrinths have been imagined both as sacred spaces for contemplation and as disorienting journeys through the unknown. They invite us to get lost, to reflect, and ultimately, to transform.
In this project, the labyrinth is not just a symbolic or abstract form—it becomes a collective, performative, and artistic installation. Theory and practice converge in a transdisciplinary process that seeks to create reflective and transformative experiences. At its core, the project centers on embodied experience—acknowledging the body in its full psychophysiological complexity, and in its relational dimension with the surrounding world.
The labyrinth becomes a space, place and... a way through which we can refigure who we are, who we can be(come), moving beyond individualism to rediscover ourselves as plural, inter- and intra-connected beings.
In this project, artistic, educational, narrative, and philosophical research intersect, transdisciplinarily—bridging the academic and civil spheres. It is a dialogue that unfolds both within and beyond the university, with society itself as a central participant in both the experience and the inquiry.
To lose oneself in order to find oneself.
To disorient in order to reorient.
To act in order to think.
To think in order to act.
These dualities are not opposed but negotiated—held in tension within an ongoing, collaborative project realized with the participation of individuals and communities across different countries.
What Are the Pillars of the Project?
Research
We are dedicated to exploring the symbolic and narrative role of the labyrinth across different cultures, media, and historical moments. Our focus lies in understanding how this motif has been and can be ritualized and reinterpreted in contemporary contexts. This research primarily supports our academic activities, including the publication of essays and participation in themed conferences.
Installation and Performativity
We create labyrinths—both temporary and permanent—in collaboration with spaces open to hosting initiatives that engage with existential and philosophical reflection. Our approach goes beyond physical construction: we emphasize the experiential dimension of the labyrinth. Participants are guided through an introductory session, followed by moments of contemplation and shared co-creation within the space.
Archiving
We are committed to documenting and preserving these experiences in a narrative format that serves as a tool for sharing and collective reflection. Our aim is to create a living archive that connects with others interested in the labyrinth as a medium for thought, exploration, and transformation.
Explore the network that supports and shapes this initiative. Meet the coordinators, discover the collaborators, and find out how you can connect, contribute, or become part of the journey.
Trace the journey so far and explore what lies ahead. Discover past milestones, ongoing projects, and the next steps as the path continues to unfold.
Discover the installations we've brought to life so far, and the traces—narratives, images, reflections—that have emerged along the way.