Artivism
to
Canadian Museum for Human Rights 85 Israel Asper Way, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0L5
Aida Šehović, “ŠTO TE NEMA (Why are You Not Here?),” 2019
installation, detail of porcelain cups (courtesy Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg; photo by Aaron Cohen)
Artivism is an exhibition that explores artistic expression as a powerful response to large‐scale violations of human rights. It features the work of six artists and art collectives whose work takes an activist approach to expose, denounce and prevent mass atrocities.
Through their work, these “artivists” advocate for a world that respects the human rights of all individuals. Their art illuminates the importance and difficulty of recognizing and remembering atrocity. Their activism demonstrates that we all can play a part in upholding human rights and preventing mass violence.
The artists, art collectives and installations featured in Artivism are:
Aida Šehović – ŠTO TE NEMA (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
The installation ŠTO TE NEMA (Why are You Not Here?) features traditional Bosnian coffee cups collected in memory of the 8,372 Bosnian Muslims killed in the 1995 Srebrenica genocide.
Grupo de Arte Callejero – Street signs (Argentina)
The Grupo de Arte Callejero (Street Artist Group) or GAC is a collective of artists that creates and posts street signs in Argentina to commemorate human rights violations committed during the military dictatorship of 1976-1983 and demand that perpetrators be held accountable.
Intuthuko Embroidery Project – Apartheid Embroidery Series (South Africa)
A group of women in South Africa established the Intuthuko (to progress) Embroidery Project to build community, raise funds and tell their own stories about life during and after apartheid.
Rebin Chalak – Masks of Yazidi Women (Iraqi Kurdistan)
During the Yazidi genocide perpetrated by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS), Yazidi women were often raped, captured, and forced to marry ISIS members. To tell their stories, Iraqi Kurdish artist Rebin Chalak cast masks from the faces of survivors.
Objects from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (Canada)
A variety of art and objects were donated to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, an inquiry into the experiences of Indigenous children forced to attend Indian residential schools. These objects are part of the testimonies that survivors shared about their experiences of being taken from their families and placed into the schools, where children were frequently abused and forced to renounce their cultures, languages, and relationships.
Elisabeth Ida Mulyani – Oleh-oleh and Supervivere (Indonesia)
These installations commemorate individuals who were kidnapped, killed and exiled for alleged ties with communism under the dictatorial regime in Indonesia from 1965 to the 1990s. Oleh-oleh consists of 13 cast golden ears, representing 13 activists who were kidnapped in the 1990s for speaking out against the regime. Supervivere is a photographic series featuring images of Indonesian exiles who were made stateless when the Indonesian government revoked their citizenship in 1965.
Artivism also invites visitors to take the 60/60/60 challenge – a commitment to take action in relation to a human rights issue that they feel passionate about, whether they have 60 seconds, 60 minutes, or 60 days to contribute.