The Ripple effect

The past year unearthed disturbing truths about humanity. In France and the U.S., the advent of the coronavirus sparked a chain reaction of racial, social, and ecological crises—existing adversities that were amplified during the pandemic, bringing domestic violence, systemic racism, and environmental injustice to the forefront of public concern and discourse. With ecofeminist and cross-cultural perspectives, The Ripple Effect intends to reveal  social plagues in the time of COVID-19.

Marrying African and European culture, Beya Gille Gacha will posit essential questions about black identity with immersive installations. Through an eco-feminist approach, Marion Artense Gély, Ulrike Markus, and Natalia Schmidt will explore the politics of gender violence using mixed media and sculptural works. A painting by Chris Wilson will encapsulate systemic racism as it relates to environmental injustice,while an installation by Odonchimeg Davaadorj will investigate the toxicity of climate change. Collectively, the exhibited works will provide an environment that incites critical inquiry and social responsibility, allowing viewers the opportunity to turn a mirror on themselves and navigate how closely gender violence, racism, and environmental injustice are interwoven into societies around the world.

When a single event threatens western civilization, we must stop and reflect. As posited by American civil rights advocate and philosopher, Kimberlé Crenshaw, “the better we understand how identities and power work together from one context to another, the less likely our movements for change are to fracture.”

Location: Paris, France

• Artist: Beya Gille Gacha, Odonchimeg Davaadorj, Natalia Schmidt, Ulrike Markus, Marion Artense Gély.

• Curator: Ming LIAO