For Those Within From Those Abroad is a public presentation of works created during this Fall’s class Artistic Intervention: Creative Responses to Conflict and Crisis, within MIT’s Arts, Culture + Technology program. Two group projects on view explore the notion of a gift as a way of responding to situations of conflict and crises from afar. The students specifically address the people of Minami Sanriku that were severely affected by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in the Tohoku region of Japan.
The event will take place in E15-001 (The Cube of the old Media Lab) on December 5 between 7 and 9 pm to see the gifts produced and the context behind them.
Artistic Intervention: Creative Responses to Conflict and Crisis is co-taught
this fall by Initiative collaborators Associate Professor and Program Head Ute Meta Bauer with Lecturer Jegan Vincent de Paul.
“A Ritual for Memory”
Human interaction within and with a place makes the place special. Even
after a city is physically destroyed, it remains a place because memories
tied to the place have created an emotional landscape. This work serves as
a platform that provides the people of Minami Sanriku with an opportunity
to share their memories of place with one another and with the world.
(By Daniela Covarrubias, Jenine Kotob, Adrian Melia, Micah Silver, Kristopher Swick)
“There is a Village”
In the midst of crises, children often develop unique methods for healing
from trauma. However, in dealing with the aftermath of many crises, the
voice of children remains silent or unheard. This project, in the form of a
play kit, provides a platform from which children can contribute to the
narrative of their home in the past, present, and future.
(By Jackee Budesta Batanda, Lily Tran, Farre Nixon, Giacomo Castagnola, Sei Lee)
This sounds like a very worthwhile topic, and am sorry to’ve missed it. I’m currently living near the Tohoku area of Japan, and am enthused the ideas you’ve shared on this site. Any work that addresses the ‘emotional landscape’ inherent in such a place will no doubt serve it’s inhabitants well, as well as those carrying somewhat of an outsider status. If there is any way to learn more about the ideas you’ve come up with, am all ears:)