Personal Recommendation Office

What do we want to recommend? What kind of referrals are we looking for? We tested this in the center of Katowice, where the world’s first Personal Recommendation Office was established.

The Personal Recommendation Office is an intervention in the cityscape associated with the artistic project “The Art of Recommending for Times of Accelerated Culture.” The project was part of the WUD Silesia 2023 – CITY OF KNOWLEDGE conference.

As part of a three-day experiment at the Minus1.artspace Gallery in Katowice, a space offering an unusual service was created. The office offered the ability to leave personal recommendations and search for suitable recommendations. This simple mechanism was operated by experienced employees of the Personal Recommendation Office. They recorded and archived recommendations and invited participants to collaboratively process them using various artistic techniques. Co-created by the crowds of city residents visiting the office, the exhibition was presented on the gallery’s website for the following weeks.

The office received several hundred visits over the course of several days, leaving dozens of inspiring suggestions. Most of the recommendations were heartfelt and emphasized the essence of a good life – the need to be with others, seek closeness to nature, and find time for passions and travel. Recommended by adults, children, students, seniors, and even non-human beings.