Action 1 - Gaze

"Action 1 - Gaze" is a performance art piece that challenges perceptions of colonization and decolonization in everyday spaces. The performer, adorned with a mirror bearing the phrase "Decolonize Your Gaze," embarks on a journey from her home to a gallery space. 

Upon arriving at the gallery, she removes the mirror and delicately unravels a red thread from her mouth. Barefoot, she walks on a trail of soil, symbolizing a connection to the earth and ancestral roots. With purposeful intent, she pins the thread to a wall displaying a live stream of her journey, inviting viewers to reflect on the question: "Have you ever been the only person of your own color or ethnicity in a large group or gathering?"

The performance transcends traditional gallery settings, taking the dialogue of colonization and decolonization to the streets of Stockholm. By confronting passersby with the mirror's reflective message, the artist prompts contemplation on privilege, identity, and the enduring legacy of colonization in a predominantly white and privileged society.

"Action 1 - Gaze" serves as a powerful catalyst for introspection, challenging viewers to confront their own complicity in systems of oppression and to actively engage in the process of decolonization, both individually and collectively.

Images: Guilherme Belotti and Johanna Teodora Kim