Direct Action Sharing

“Direct action” sustains everyday life not only in political struggles but also in the small, often unnoticed practices that shape our social worlds. From Zen philosophy’s emphasis on action to the rise of self-organised spaces and collectives in art and activism, we see how transformation begins not with theory alone, but with lived experience.

Manchester’s own history—from Peterloo to the Chartists and the Rochdale cooperatives—reminds us that social change has always emerged from direct acts of solidarity. Yet questions remain: What is the role of action for theory? And what is the role of theory for action?

Direct Action Sharing is a spontaneous gathering that seeks to unfold these questions through conversation and exchange. It is less about presentation and more about sharing: bringing together practitioners, activists, and curious participants to reflect on the relationship between action and knowledge.

For this first session, taking place as part of the Asian Triennale Manchester 2025, we will focus on the theme of absence. What role does absence play in our practices? What does it mean to sense what is missing—between theory and action, between presence and loss—and how might this shape how we share our experiences?

In an informal setting—in the streets, cafés, pubs, or parks—we invite you to bring a story, an object, or a reflection that responds to the idea of absence. Together, we will explore how sharing our struggles, passions, and creative forms of direct action might spark intergenerational and interlocal conversations.

This is an open invitation to anyone curious about the realities of action, and how we might learn from each other by sharing them directly.

Tyuki Imamura
DPhil Candidate in Contemporary Art History and Theory, University of Oxford

Tyuki’s research explores the relationship between place and human practices, focusing on the transformative potential of community-led art activism. His work stems from first-hand experience in post-3.11 Japan, where grassroots cultural initiatives became vital in rebuilding communities after the earthquake and tsunami.

With academic training spanning Bard College (New York), the University of Oxford, and Tokyo University of the Arts, Tyuki brings an interdisciplinary lens—philosophy, art history, and sustainable urban development—to questions of mutual aid, memory, and collective expression. Professionally, Tyuki has collaborated with collectives and practitioners across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, including curatorial work with Raqs Media Collective (Yokohama Triennale 2020) and ruangrupa (documenta fifteen/Lumbung One).

Currently supported by the Ertegun Graduate Scholarship Programme, Tyuki’s doctoral research at the Ruskin School of Art, University of Oxford examines interlocal networks of self-organised, community-led art activism in Asia.

Wild plants glowing on elevated soil in Rikuzentakata, a city undergoing reconstruction after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Photo by Tyuki Imamura, 2014.

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