Can the Fluxus Event become a tool for online community building?
In today’s digital reality, we often wish for meaningful ways to connect with others online beyond the influencer-focused culture of social media. The dominant platforms have increasingly transformed human interaction into performance metrics, engagement statistics, and monetizable content. Many users find themselves caught in cycles of passive consumption and the constant pressure to present curated versions of themselves. The algorithms that govern our digital lives tend to prioritize content that generates emotion and engagement rather than meaningful connection, leaving many longing for digital spaces where creativity, playfulness, humor and collaborative meaning-making can flourish.
What if we could harness the playful spirit of one of the 20th century’s innovative art phenomena to build communities in virtual spaces? That is one of the goals of Event Swirl—a communication platform inspired by Fluxus practice, designed as part of doctoral research by Weronika Trojańska, an artist, researcher, and occasional contributor to Activating Fluxus writing section. Through Event Swirl, participants engage in game-like events and create their own artistic responses using images, video, and sound.
Event Swirl is structured around three key tenets of Fluxus art practice:
1. Event Score
The most iconic format of Fluxus work was the written instruction for a performative action—often based on a simple gesture or, conversely, transmitting something complex but abstract. George Brecht, often referred to as the initiator of this format, wrote that the word “event” described his interest in “the total, multi-sensory experience” that could emerge from a “situation,” with the “event” being the smallest unit of a “situation.” Event scores functioned similarly to musical notation that could be performed by anyone repeatedly. In Event Swirl, this format becomes the foundation for user interaction. Each participant engages with the community through these scores, creating their own events and interpretations.
2. Chance
Randomness describes a situation where outcomes are unpredictable and governed by chance. As an important feature of Fluxus practice, it allowed artists to break from routine and distance themselves from the outcome of their own creative gestures, often co-shaped through improvisation and audience participation. Event Swirl incorporates this element by randomly selecting users to create new event scores, which are then distributed to everyone in the network. Participants decide for themselves whether to accept each challenge.
3. Network
From its very beginning, Fluxus operated as a network rather than a movement with an organized structure. It gathered international artists working in various media—from music, through dance, film, and literature, to visual arts—who knew each other or were introduced through mutual connections. Event Swirl users can invite people from their own circles of friends and professional contacts, creating an expanding web of people interested in Fluxus-inspired activities.
Event Swirl also embraces other key Fluxus principles: humor, game-like qualities, collectivity, performativity, participation, and a celebration of tiny, everyday experiences.
How Does Event Swirl Work?
The project functions both as a widely available web app and as an artwork itself. People can share their interpretations of scores with anyone or only with a select group. They can also react to each other’s work, referencing the participatory nature of Fluxus actions. The relatively short response time encourages quick thinking, aligning with the spontaneous nature of event scores, whose performances were typically unrehearsed. People discover the platform either through invitation from existing members or by finding it through search engines. Anyone 13 and older can create an account by registering and selecting a username. No additional personal data is required, though content is moderated.
Event Swirl is accessible via browser on mobile devices or computers. The interface is designed to be simple and intuitive, making it easy for users of all ages—including digital natives and those belonging to the generation of the original Fluxus artists. The game mechanics and performative aspects make it engaging and approachable for young users, and it might serve as a tool for teaching and classroom interaction.
The detailed instructions on how to use the platform are available here: https://eventswirl.com/support
So why not join the swirl?
The project was awarded a scholarship from the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Activating Fluxus 