Indigenism
Way of Thinking: INDIGENISM
10.2004
[Part of the Living Walls mural project > website]
Way of Thinking intends to question; what is Indigenism in this post-colonial era? This interactive installation with the help of Antonio Chavez’s served also as a welcoming ceremony through a process in which I asked participants to recognize their racial identity and their ancestors as colonizers and/or colonized. The project was an invitation to explore the relationships we have towards our indigenous roots and our colonial positions of power.
Participants selected a piece of fabric that represented the color of their flesh. On a piece of red paper, each person wrote secretly the names of his/her ancestors and identified if they had been colonized and/or colonizers. Finally, participants wrapped the red paper with the fabric and they nailed it to the wall.
Dedicated to: Peace and Dignity Journeys
Created by: Mabel Negrete (project leader) in collaboration with Antonio Chavez from (Peace and Dignity Journeys), around 40 paticipants from the Clarion Alley Block Party and SFPC members