Lecture on Art and Social Change

Introduction

• Speaker is an artist whose work is centered around people and bringing them together.
• Focus on using walls, which traditionally divide, to unite people through art.

Projects Highlighted

Israel-Palestine

• Took photos of Israelis and Palestinians doing the same job and pasted them in cities across both regions.
• People couldn’t distinguish between the two groups, highlighting commonality.

Brazil's Favelas

• Pasted faces of women on the hills of communities, highlighting the first targets of violence.

The Louvre, Paris

• Organized a large-scale wheat-pasting project to create an illusion of a bigger pyramid.

US-Mexico Border

• Featured a one-year-old child, Kikito, contemplating the view of the wall.

Art in Prisons: Tehachapi Project

• A friend suggested using prisons for an art project.
• Gained unexpected access to California's state prisons, including the high-security Tehachapi.

Execution of the Project

• Conducted interviews with inmates, asking about their lives, crimes, and changes.
• Created a massive portrait puzzle on the prison yard with their photos.
• Encouraged participation from both inmates and guards, breaking down barriers.

Outcomes

• Inmates shared personal stories that were made accessible through an app.
• Families and guards who listened treated inmates differently.
• Many inmates were moved to lower-security facilities or released early.

Kevin's Story

• Featured an inmate, Kevin, with a swastika tattoo that he wanted to remove.
• Learned about his family history opposing Nazi actions during the Holocaust, leading to a personal transformation.
• Upon release, Kevin started the process of tattoo removal.

Broader Impact of Art

• Art as a bridge, encouraging dialogue without dictating thoughts.
• Emphasized the importance of process in art.
• Shared an anecdote about the significance of shaking hands and personal connections.

Ukraine Project

• Created a large-scale image of a little girl, highlighting the impact of war.
• The image traveled across Europe, gathering people in solidarity.

Conclusion

• The speaker poses a question about the transformative power of art.
• Encourages reflection on personal change and the possibility of change in others.

Final Thoughts

• Art can prompt reflection and potentially change perspectives.
• Ends with an inspiring thought: if individuals can change, so can society.