In the words of students from the El Balcón study group:

“Modern society is demanding a reevaluation of the process of representation. For too long, the Global North has taken it upon themselves to define the other. When defining the other, those in power, usually Caucasian men, have tended towards essentializing peoples and cultures into a shorthand of derogatory stereotypes.

This long history of misrepresentation has created a strong animosity for any representations of the other derived from outside perspectives. While this animosity is deserved, it does not have to be universal. When outsiders make an honest attempt to understand those other than themselves, when they proceed with caution and respect, it is possible for outsiders to create a fair representation of the other.

Outsider representations will always lack aspects of insider representations; nevertheless, they will also contain new insights if they are conducted correctly. The goal of this exhibition has been to create a fair representation as such. At the outset of planning this exhibition, we took the time to acknowledge that we will never have an insider perspective of Oaxacan culture.

Then, when COVID-19 necessitated that we cancel our visit to Oaxaca, we again reevaluated our positionality and took our ambitions another step back. Now, our goal is to see whether or not a fair representation is possible at all in our physically-distanced reality. For a moment we questioned if this goal was possible. We feared that the current state of the world had caused our exhibition to crumble. However, we decided that sharing our electronically-mediated affairs could prove more beneficial to the world of Social Practice Art than the original physically-grounded exhibition.

Whether we succeed or fail in our attempt to create a fair representation of our subjects in this project, we are adding to the vital body of knowledge on how to forge cross-cultural and cross-national relationships without physical contact. If social distancing orders stay in effect, which we pray they will not, we all must learn to develop meaningful relationships in digital formats. For how can we support those outside of our immediate sphere without a network of intermediaries to connect us? How can we be introduced to new ideas and social issues if we allow the current circumstances to divide us?“

// Summary text by Zachary Kanzler