Different Voices
In Different Voices – a platform for the production and dissemination of gender-debating artworks in public spaces – various voices of people working on ideas surrounding gender politics are represented. The project was initiated in 2007 by Lasanaa (NP) and Women down the pub (DK).
Ashmina Ranjit, artist and founder of the alternative art space Lasanaa, met Women down the Pub, the feminist artist network, when she took part in an artist in residency program in Copenhagen. We found it very interesting that even though we had different backgrounds, geographically, nationally, culturally etc, we had several mutual interests and aspirations. We had, in different parts of the world, organized ourselves against patriarchal power structures and sexism. Furthermore we had similar experiences with taking our own situation as artists and feminists, as the starting point for our projects.
As Nynne Haugaard and Nikolaj Kilsmark from Women down the pub, already were based in Kathmandu the idea to make a collaboration in Nepal emerged.
Together we initiated Different Voices, a project with a gender debating, intersectional and transnational perspective. The compelling challenge was to analyze our similarities and differences and to raise questions on fundamental problems of our societies. We have employed feminism as an analytical tool to critique and to infiltrate hegemonic forms of representation. Our aim has been to establish an awareness of the politics of representation and how to situate ourselves within a local, global and historical context.
How is gender structures expressed and materialized in different parts of the world, socially, economically, politically, culturally and legally?
How can we critique and reflect on political situations through art?
How can we intervene in commercial culture and in public space through the medium of art?
People with various professions participated and provided their expertice to the activities that constituted the Different Voices project. The one year long program has included workshops, art in public space, installation works, performances, public discussions, artist talks, and co-laborative writing.
We are proud of the collective achievements, some of these you can see in this publication and more can be seen at www.differentvoices.org. We look forward to see how all these collective efforts will continue and further develop in the future.
Thanks to all and every one who contributed!
It is all yours!
Lasanaa/Ashmina Ranjit and Women down the Pub/Andrea Creutz, Nynne Haugard, Nikolaj Kilsmark and Lisa Strömbeck