DALTONICO (Colourblind) conceptualization: Ibada Wadud (USA), Karolina Rychlik (Poland), Ángel Masip (Spain) realization: Ibada Wadud and Karolina Rychlik
Photo by Raphael Franco
Wadud with intern, Caroline Dimelow (UK), and marginalized residents of La Pigna bear a sign in Arabic that asks “Do you know your neighbour’s name?” The stencil test is later transformed into a large black and white billboard that is installed in a storefront for public viewing.
Background:
La Pigna 2011 | An artistic social intervention “For the second year in a row, 13 University of Ideas (UNIDEE) residents lived in the historic centre of the city of San Remo (La Pigna) for one week and were hosted by La Pigna Mon Amour, a cultural association made up of volunteers who operate in the area. On this occasion, artistic projects were carried out in collaboration with the district’s inhabitants and were strictly in relation with the particular local context.” -Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto | Biella, Italy
UNIDEE in the press: La Stampa, Wednesday, 28th September, 2011
A series of large black and white billboards bear provocative messages in the old centre of the city of San Remo. Daltonico, or Colourblind, sets out to open an intercultural dialogue on the most important human values, going beyond the clichés associated with skin colour. The project also has an objective to encourage a collaboration with different members of the community, promoting understanding. With this in mind, the artists have used the most common languages of the area, not those understood by all members of the community. Coexistence and dignity have thus been translated into aesthetically harmonious and elegant textual images, mirrors of their contextual content.
THE WORK IN PROGRESS (i lavori in corso) Photographs by Ekaterina Kraftsova
After testing the stencil on cardboard, Wadud secures the stencil onto the painted plywood to realize the final work.
Hours earlier Wadud posed for a photo next to the young man in the background bearing a machete. She remains unaware that the fight has erupted.
“Human beings are like drops of water. If you leave small drops out in the sun, they are bound to evaporate. If you collect them, they can become a source of sustenance. Daltonico positively exploits our uniquely human ability to experience empathic concern with the aim of channeling our emotions into condensed, collective social actions. Who wants to dry out in the sun? Daltonico aims to provide each citizen with the opportunity to be a drop in the tall glass.� -Ibada Wadud
When asked by Cittadellarte and La Pigna Mon Amour to respond to the act of vandalism, Wadud wrote the following:
THE INSTALLATION (l’installazione) 22nd August, 2011 Left: Wadud and Rychlik install the billboard in a storefront with high visibility in the historic center of San Remo known as La Pigna. This stoop is a popular drugdealing hub occupied by young men. They were proud to sit in front of the sign. Others felt intimidated by the strange script, unaware that it was a neighborly gesture, “Do you know your neighbour’s name?”
As an artist particularly focused on social transformation, I don’t view myself as the owner of the end product that I create, but simply the vehicle or vessel used to spark a dialogue between individuals and communities. Therefore, the vandalism that occurred is something that I accept as part of a process that often commences with reactionary and emotionally-charged actions. At the same time I do not consider it an assault against my work or a personal attack. On the contrary, I believe it is a violent demonstration against the community and its environment. This is because the piece took on an autonomous existence once I released it into a public space and over time began to converse and coalesce with other surrounding life forms while pertaining to a new physical space. By developing and executing this project, my intention was to facilitate discussion and fellowship between neighbors of different backgrounds and to provide a constructive platform for voicing ideas, visions and opinions. It was also my hope that by doing so via art/design that others would be inspired to use creative, non-traditional methods for sending messages that might affect local policies. Bearing this in mind, it means that I equally accept admirers and protestors of the work. At the same time I do not think that violent gestures offer a solution to the frustration that members of the San Remo community might be experiencing.
“These are not artworks. Their purpose is something different. They are necessary not noble. They are living actions disguised as art.”
Photo by Aastha Chauhan
ART BREEDS VIOLENCE? (l’arte genera violenza?) 10th November, 2011 Right: A photo is sent to the artists from La Pigna Mon Amour explaining that a stranger vandalized the billboard. They are asked to make a public statement.
Photo by La Pigna Mon Amour
It will most likely only fuel more violence. It is ultimately up to the citizens to make a collective decision to act in favor of their interests and I do not support social art interventions in communities where there is no local support or collaboration. I employed art as a method to achieve the end goal of igniting a dialogue, but I must respect the fact that perhaps the people have other standards or expectations that might produce more immediate or direct results. I, by no means, had any expectations when I arrived or left La Pigna. I simply wanted to communicate and coexist with the people and fulfill the vision of one non-profit organization working in the neighborhood. I do understand that this orgnanization’s vision does not necessarily represent the vision of every individual or family living in the city. I also understand that there may have been a disconnect between my vision and their own. This is the beauty of grassroots action. I accept these discrepancies and misunderstandings as conditions of my work because they encourage me to constantly challenge myself beyond my perceivable abilities as an artist, educator and researcher. It is very important to me to grow personally and professionally, and I must say that I have grown because of my experience with the community, which was extremely welcoming and gracious, as were my fellow artists. “A condensed vision of wisdom and awareness.” -Paolo Naldini, Director of Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto, ONLUS
THE INSTALLATION (l’installazione) Photographs by Ekaterina Kraftsova Karolina Rychlik and Ibada Wadud install the second Daltonico billboard in its first location. It was later moved because of an anonymous threat of arson directed toward the homeowner who allowed the artists to utilize his rooftop. It reads, “Coexistence is more than living side by side.”
DALTONICO beyond tolerance 16th-23rd August, 2011 | San Remo, Italy
Photo by Ekaterina Kraftsova
Special thanks to (Grazie a): Karolina Rychlik for her persistance and collaboration Carolina Dimelow and Elisabetta Rattalino for being team players Olga Karyakina and Raphael Franco for their technical support Ekaterina Kraftsova and Aastha Chauhan for their artistic support La Pigna Mon Amour, you are like family Iba for his friendship and full access to his gallery space Giuseppe Campanille for going above and beyond The people of San Remo, especially our friends Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto