Introduction: ’Many of the rights and freedoms we enjoy today were won by disobedience. Activist social movements have changed our world from the grassroots up, popularising new ideas and values. The objects made as part of these movements have played a key role in those cultural and political changes. Disobedient objects is an exhibition of art and design from below. the objects on show were not made by commercial designers, but by people collectively taking design into their own hands to make a change in the world. the makers are often worked under duress with limited resources, driven to out-design authority using imagination and creativity. From the late ‘70s to the present, disobedient making has changed with a new cycle of clonal social structures and new technologies. This exhibition does not offer a total overview, but it throws a spotlight on these important yet overlooked forms of making.’ (Disobedient Objects (2014) [Exhibition]. Victoria and Albert Museum, London. 26 July 2014 - 1 February 2015).
When I first walked into the exhibition of ‘Disobedient Objects’, It was not what I expected. I was expecting to see amusing, ‘staged situations’ involving the use of different objects, which partly, it was, the ‘makeshift tear gas mask’ for example. But the ‘disobedient objects’ were in fact political, standing up for or representing something. Once piece in particular, ‘Badges Against Apartheid’, looks to be just a collection of badges at first glance, which, it is, but it also portrays and represents the battle against the apartheid.
I believe this exhibition is presenting historical, political facts, but through story telling and other ‘unconventional’ manners. Each piece in the exhibition represents a political stance or view or movement such as: women’s right to vote, the apartheid and capitalism. Some pieces are quite obvious or straight-forward, such as the banner ‘Capitalism is Crisis’. Where as other pieces are telling stories.
‘Saucepan Lid (Cacerola)’: ‘In 2001 the Argentinian government froze the bank accounts of 18 million citizens. Thousands banged cacerolas in the streets, chanting, ‘All of them must go’. They forced out four presidents in three weeks. the events were later described as the first national revolt against neoliberal capitalism’. (Disobedient Objects (2014) [Exhibition]. Victoria and Albert Museum, London. 26 July 2014 - 1 February 2015). This everyday item, a simple saucepan lid, became ‘disobedient’ and argued back against the leaders. It was a symbol of Argentinians standing up for what they believe and fighting back. Now, this saucepan lid tells this story, the story of the Argentinians fighting the masses.
My favourite piece from the exhibition is a collection of items found on the streets which ‘belong to ongoing struggles’. Two of the stickers which stood out to me were ‘Fuck off back to Eton’ and ‘A Hashtag won’t save the world’. (Disobedient Objects (2014) [Exhibition]. Victoria and Albert Museum, London. 26 July 2014 - 1 February 2015). ‘Fuck off back to Eton’ is making a stereotypical, judgemental comment about politicians, but I think it has been done in a humorous way. Regarding ‘A Hashtag won’t save the world’ I truly believe in this. Yes, a hashtag will raise awareness about an issue, providing it trends that is, but it won’t actually help a situation. If I was having a heart attack, typing #helpi’mhavingaheartattack won’t do anything to save your life. You need to actively do something to resolve the situation, like ringing 999. I believe this piece is more story telling than factual. This is because the piece contains various politically themed posters and stickers but because it it recent and on-going, rather than historical, and because each piece contains a slogan or statement rather than facts, this results in each piece being open to an individuals interpretation: It’s a story that is yet to be heard.
I think this exhibition creates a narrative of culture as it is telling political stories which are based on culture and opinion but I think it could also be works of art for future generations as it will inform them of past political issues and what people have fought for, therefore, showing them what they shouldn’t give up.
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