Glossary

Assemblage

The concept of assemblage within the context of artistic and philosophical discourse is complex and multifaceted. Originating from the work of Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, this term derives from the English translation of their concept of agencement. This French term refers to processes of grouping, arranging, organizing, and fitting together heterogeneous materials, emphasizing processuality rather than stabilized collections or material arrangements. It is important to note that the concept critically differs from the French term assemblage, which implies stabilized arrangements of different component parts. Assemblages are dynamic entities that fluctuate and change over time. They can be understood as complex constellations of objects, bodies, expressions, codes, qualities, and territories that come together under specific conditions and for varying periods. Therefore, assemblages are always in a state of construction and reconstruction, operating through processes of de- and reterritorialization according to intensive coding processes. These processes repurpose objects and desires and can be triggered by both human and non-human agents. This understanding of assemblages is crucial for appreciating their application in various fields, including art, social theory, and philosophy, highlighting the fluid and ever-changing nature of relationships among disparate components within a given assemblage.