The Victoria and Albert Museum currently hosts a free exhibition
called ‘Disobedient Objects’. The exhibition showcases objects that have been used in
protests and for social movements; you may ask - what does that have to do with
design? A lot, in fact. All the collected objects tell a story of how an
object was created, or recycled in many cases, to serve a purpose in a social
movement between the 1970s and now. It demonstrates the innovation and
creativity of people, how rudimentary elements can be taken to create something
so meaningful. The obvious things I thought of before visiting were banners and
posters, which are often proof of creativity and wit, but there are so many
more things in the exhibition that tell fascinating stories.
What caused one of the biggest disconnects for me, were the
textiles created by Chilean women to protest against the dictatorship,
sometimes hiding messages in the back of the work. The authorities
dismissed it as folk art, oblivious to the daring message. Later in the 90s
these techniques were taken up by protests in Ireland against the Iraq war. Indeed, the
great connectedness of our time helps social movements to learn from each
other. Instructions manuals on how to protest, what to do in case of an arrest
and also how to create objects like homemade tear-gas mask were another example
of it. A manual that appeared in Egypt 2011, was found translated in the 2013
Ukraine protests.
Signs and symbols are also part of the exhibition,
explaining the story of the SILENCE=DEATH banner used in early AIDS protests,
as well as re-use of symbols across protests. On one side of the exhibition
room, you can see giant inflatable cobblestones hanging from the ceiling, which
were used in protests in Berlin, reusing this symbol of protest, which for me
very much evokes the French Revolution. Make sure to watch the short film on
the big screen to see a policeman struggle to deflate the giant cobblestone.
These are just a few examples that stood out for me and I
hope will give you a taste of what the exhibition is about, to go and discover it
for yourself!
I would recommend going at a time when it isn’t that busy –
the V&A is open until 10pm on Fridays, which for me was the best time!
Let me know how you find it!
