Transnational Embodied Belonging within ‘Edge Habitats’

The author discusses the concept of denizenship and the different articulations of embodied transnational belonging, exploring projects by Joanna Rajkowska and Nada Prlja. Through metaphors of an ecotone and edge habitat, facilitating exchange within and between communities, she examines spaces across and in-between in which national identifications of individuals in Europe are deconstructed. The article discusses transition (through Rajkowska's artistic practice) and tension (through Prlja's artistic practice) zones, drawing upon Jacques Derrida's discourse on hospitality, in order to seek for alternative modes of thinking about citizenship. These are based on generosity, friendship, hospitality and acknowledge locatedness of individuals and the space in-between - being here and there, at home and not at home. Rajkowska and Prlja's projects offer fresh and innovative articulations of cosmopolitan and hospitable spaces, which enable communities based on identification with others.