Referendum: Performance by Tania Bruguera in Union Square Park
Sunday, March 6, 2016
10am to 8pm
[Image Description: A person stands beneath an electrical billboard that has a turquoise background, an image of Pangea, the statement “YOU HAVE A VOTE ON WHETHER PEOPLE LIVE OR DIE. BORDERS KILL. SHOULD WE ABOLISH OUR BORDERS?,” and two sections for “YES” with the number “2667” below it and “NO” with the number “2686” below it.]
Artist Tania Bruguera revisited her project Referendum, which was first staged in fall 2015 as part of Nuit Blanche in Toronto. The interactive performance functioned as a public vote on questions surrounding immigration and borders, generally raising public awareness about the effects of borders on humankind in a time of unprecedented migration. Referendum was a companion piece to The Francis Effect (2014), a work that was on view in When Artists Speak Truth… (November 12, 2015 - March 19, 2016) that aims to change the perception of immigration and citizenship rights worldwide. Bruguera and her collaborators collected signatures on postcards that featured an image of the seven continents united, accompanied by the slogan “Dignity has no nationality,” which endorse Pope Francis’ supportive stance toward immigrants.
To read more about Tania Bruguera and the Referendum event, please visit BLOUIN ARTINFO and The Art Newspaper. Also, to see an interview with Tania Bruguera about Referendum, immigration, and globalization on NY1 Noticias, please visit here and to see live coverage of the event and interview with Bruguera, please visit an NY1 Noticias video here and an interview between the Foundation's Artist Director Sara Reisman and Tania Bruguera here.