LANDSCAPES OF LINGERING & CONVIVIALITY

PEELING THE VEILED: THE COUNTERBALANCE OF A STIFLED COMMUNITY

Peeling the Veiled is informed by the history of enslaved laborers and Eugenic science at the University of Virginia and inspired by the painting “Behind the Myth of Benevolence” by Titus Kaphar. The design views the Black Bus Stop as an inversion of racial power and visibility on the racialized grounds of UVA. The design aims to “peel and unveil” the surrounding figures that represent white supremacy through appropriation. By reshaping the landform to improve accessibility; placing designed seats to encourage “sitting outside as an empowering appropriation (Rishbeth & Rogaly, 2018)”; and designated walkways to strengthen the connection between the BBS and the existing spatial figures, the design hopes to transform the current transitional in-between space into an inclusive and appropriable space that celebrates diversity and conviviality.