Photos by Sergey Molinero
“I propose to perform a conditional farewell ceremony
with the traumatic labels imposed on you that follow
from the dominance of gender binaries and associated stereotypes.
You can take a marker and leave those marks (words) on the mannequins,
which excluded you, stigmatized you, disenfranchised you
to self-determination and freedom of expression.
Later they will be consigned to oblivion."
A participatory project about rejecting imposed categories and identities, not only because to remain the same is terribly boring (to paraphrase Foucault), but because strict categorization often leads to policies of exclusion, discrimination and violence. Inviting visitors to contribute their own limiting labels on the mannequins transformed the installation into a shared experience, fostering empathy and understanding among participants.
The exhibition ended with a performance: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2R6EhiARAc