The following definition is derived from The Artist's 亗 personal application of the concept in context of the technical & creative explorations that have resulted in this body of work.
A quilt is a multi-functional heirloom passed down from one generation of a family, community or Culture to the next.
For some, it is a coat-of-arms - an arsenal of symbols and summaries that project or defend certain ideas, qualities and / or accomplishments.
For others, it is a tangible mission statement - a declaration of past trials, future vision & intentions for triumph.
For all, it can be a framework for reflection - a loom ... of legacy ...
A quilt beholds vital pieces of bigger pictures & pathways for connection and communication both within & beyond the borders of time, space & consciousness …
The following definition appears courtesy of the course: How to Be an Effective Human Rights Advocate. This course focuses on re:flexing - (a term directly inspired by this exhibit) - which brings us back to ourselves as advocates to build practices of reflection and self-accountability that make our movements stronger.
re:flexing is an active practice involving looking at one’s own assumptions, beliefs, and judgments to explore how they impact our relationship to self and others.
This practice comes from the term “reflexivity” which is often used in the context of qualitative research and social work to refer to the examination of one’s own judgments, assumptions, and belief systems that can influence the data collection and analysis process or the interventions they’re working on.
In a broader sense, we’re using re:flexing to describe how we do reflexivity practice in a way that goes beyond an academic exercise. It asks us to consider our perspective(s) and experience(s) as they relate to the work we’re doing and the issues we care about. More than just reflecting, re:flexing requires us to actively take accountability and flex our sense of self in our relationships.
You may have encountered some aspects of re:flexing already in the form of implicit bias training or activities that look at privilege and positionality. This is an important part of re:flexing; however, this broader framework dives deeper into the politics of identity / self-interest as a tool to build strong movements, & self-accountability.
re:flexing is important for human rights advocates because the systems of oppression that function at an institutional level also function through us inter-personally. If we don’t cultivate a practice of re:flexing, we risk replicating systems of oppression in our relationships. This is harmful in itself, and it threatens our ability to build strong movements for change.
This practice comes from the term “reflexivity” which is often used in the context of qualitative research and social work to refer to the examination of one’s own judgments, assumptions, and belief systems that can influence the data collection and analysis process or the interventions they’re working on.
In a broader sense, we’re using re:flexing to describe how we do reflexivity practice in a way that goes beyond an academic exercise. It asks us to consider our perspective(s) and experience(s) as they relate to the work we’re doing and the issues we care about. More than just reflecting, re:flexing requires us to actively take accountability and flex our sense of self in our relationships.
You may have encountered some aspects of re:flexing already in the form of implicit bias training or activities that look at privilege and positionality. This is an important part of re:flexing; however, this broader framework dives deeper into the politics of identity / self-interest as a tool to build strong movements, & self-accountability.
re:flexing is important for human rights advocates because the systems of oppression that function at an institutional level also function through us inter-personally. If we don’t cultivate a practice of re:flexing, we risk replicating systems of oppression in our relationships. This is harmful in itself, and it threatens our ability to build strong movements for change.
