The workshop Wild Democracy was created by artist Synnøve Sizou G. Wetten. It focused on performative and activistic strategies in public space, taking its starting point in questions concerning how we can change, interrupt, hack or hijack a local environment. Together, the participants and artist looked at how we in this process also can activate awareness concerning what personal or collective identity means.
The workshop started by painting a communal banner, with each participants painting the first letter of their name. The banner was hung in the workshop space as a background and visual symbol of us as a collective ‘We’.
Throughout the workshop the participants looked at examples of performance actions in public space by different artists and activists. Civil disobedience was put in focus through the work of Rosa Parks, The Arabic Spring, Adrian Piper, The Yes Men, Pussy Riot, Oleg Kulik, Ellen Nyman, the Russian activist collective
The workshop Wild Democracy was created by artist Synnøve Sizou G. Wetten. It focused on performative and activistic strategies in public space, taking its starting point in questions concerning how we can change, interrupt, hack or hijack a local environment. Together, the participants and artist looked at how we in this process also can activate awareness concerning what personal or collective identity means.
The workshop started by painting a communal banner, with each participants painting the first letter of their name. The banner was hung in the workshop space as a background and visual symbol of us as a collective ‘We’.
Throughout the workshop the participants looked at examples of performance actions in public space by different artists and activists. Civil disobedience was put in focus through the work of Rosa Parks, The Arabic Spring, Adrian Piper, The Yes Men, Pussy Riot, Oleg Kulik, Ellen Nyman, the Russian activist collective Voina, Petr Pavlensky and AFK’s painting stunt in Bergen.
After interjections and expanded discussions related to the performative strategies presented, participants together with the artists worked with a spontaneous flow and improvisation of ideas. Through performative micro-stunts they warmed up before going into public space as performance activists. Using the starting point of the communal We, discussions were had that led to creating a performance activism inspired by Adrian Piper’s performance series ‘Catalysis’, in one of Stavanger’s town squares.
Curator: Kristina Ketola Bore
Mobilizing Citizenship has received generous funding from Arts Council Norway.
Synnøve S. G. Wetten's practice revolves around themes related to identity and the body in interaction with language and movement. Contemporary references and poetic images are tied together. She works with an emphasis on painting, performance, video, text and photography. Lives and works in Oslo.
