Voice
A reflection, as part of Change, Coordinates + Someone Else Design House Exhibition, 2017
To approach a group of individuals with a set of expectations, whether formal or conceptual, is to assume that you know someone else’s answer to their own dilemma. Such predisposition of supposed knowledge carries at its essence unbridled arrogance; it dictates a rather hierarchical relationship of “teacher” and “student” rather than a more democratic and parallel alliance of a “collaborator” or “participant”. However unintentional in some cases, this method of “working together” renders itself counter productive and congests channels of feedback and communication with intimidation, uncertainty and skepticism.
Aspiring to be change agents, designers have to therefore invest in the rather spiritual practice of unlearning; ridding oneself of all assumed knowledge, of all illusions of power, bringing them closer to humility and real collaboration.
It is through art and design movements, among other creative fields, which cement notions of identity and nationality that we are able to sustain a collective memory of how a state was in comparison to how it is in the present. That is to say, in a more globalized setting, where the tendency is to replace local vocabulary with a more international one, art/design practitioners are exposed to the danger of engaging in rather autonomous, irrelevant work. Artifacts as a response, and in relationship to, our habitat become of utmost necessity; this is not only a matter of production, but a matter of paying attention, of documenting and archiving states of being, shifts and changes, successes and failures and frustrations, thus contributing to the writing of an on-going history of a place.
A pressure of an enormous weight lies on the shoulders of those who choose to be active participants of the world. Faced with endless possibilities, the “Yes!” culture leaves us in a constant chase of opportunity, never turning down an offer in the fear of missing out on the “Next Big Thing”. We tend to take on more than we can digest, often stretching ourselves thin in the process. It is by no means an extraordinary situation, for this city establishes extremely high demands; in order to be successful you must be present, active and visible in certain venues, at specific events, in particular times. Failing to do so renders one irrelevant, completely peripheral. It is indeed a Super World in need of Super Humans. We carry around our fear of missing out combined with a vague memory of a Buzzfeed list of “Ten Things You Can Do to Be a Successful Entrepreneur” and a healthy diet of cigarettes and Redbull with persistent clocks ticking away in the background. No wonder everything happens last minute, if you’re involved in ten-folds what you are – as a human being with naturally, two arms – capable of handling.
This is by no means a criticism, but a reality we are reminded with as we quickly glance at fancy mirrors down hallways we are often rushing past. We would like to think that one day we will only ever commit to pursuits we are passionate about, absolutely consumed by, so deeply and utterly in love with. Perhaps then, we will invest in curiosity and be captivated by a wondrous process that takes us places we never knew existed. As a wise woman once said: “this is what this city does to you.” Certainly, but hope prevails.
Change, Coordinates + Someone Else is available for purchase at multiple locations. Contact us for more information.
