That solidarity with people affected by war and deprivation is a good thing is beyond doubt. What is however the possibility of privileged artists from affluent backgrounds to contribute to peace and happiness of those at the radically other end of the stick?
For the US-based conceptual artist Yazmany Arboleda, there is no doubt whether art can change bring “peace” and “instant happiness”, at least temporarily, to the inhabitants of Afghanistan. His project ”We Believe in Balloons” just announced that 10.000 pink balloons soon is to be distributed on the street of Kabul on an unexpected Saturday morning to brighten up the lives of those living in the harsh plight of war, oppression, and material deprivation. [Saturday is the first day of the Afghani working week. – The Author’s note.]
This artistic intervention marks the fourth one in the series titled Monday Morning series, that according to the artist has managed to “creat(e) a living sculpture(s) that brought about joy, wonderment and a new sense of awareness to people.”What kind of new awareness the balloons brought to the people in earlier phases of the project remains somewhat unclear to me. Most certainly my position as an external spectator obscures my understanding of the deeper symbolism of giving out and receiving colourful balloons in the streets for free.
But can balloons really bring instant joy and a new sense of awareness about the world they live in? If so, which kind of revelations may pink balloons bring to the people of Kabul? In Nairobi, balloons were given out during a period of great insecurity, as the Kenyan government were launching heavy insurgency operations into Somalia and two retaliatory grenade attacks just had been committed of in the city. This made the balloon spectacle, aimed to cheer up the locals, even more important to stage, claimed the artist:
"I believe strongly that countering grenades with balloons could send an important message to the Nairobi community and the world at large…I find that this work is even more significant now that Kenya's social climate has been dampened by the al-Shabaab threats and the recent attacks." Nice thought. However, the way that people interpret the event may differ starkly from the artists’ intentions. Indeed, in Nairobi some people “thought we were having a job fair” Arboleda admits. Somehow, I get a sense that this “new sense of awareness”, joy and hope during a period of intensified levels of violence and threats of violence may be quiet limited outside of the artist’s mind and collegial circle. But now the balloon blessing is finally to reach Kabul.
The balloons are to be funded by individual donors’ online payments. Then they are to be distributed by more than 100 volunteers in Kabul. Each donor can only contribute with a one dollar donation, signifying each donors/purchasers direct link to a local Afghani. “(E)ach supporter will only be able to give a single dollar” signifiying “ a direct link to one balloon - in an effort to generate equal ownership of the overall manifestation” and deliver a moment of ”simple happiness” hails the artist.
No prerequisites apply for becoming a balloon owner other than a commitment to hold on to the balloon until you have reached work. Now, how could we talk of “equal ownership” when the artist already has set the rules of the game?
Over and over international as well as domestic interventions, no matter the intentions, manage to impose new forms of conditionalities on locals in an underdog position in every aspect of the latter’s life. This time the direction on what to do and how to feel comes in the form of art. Art can be frivolous. Art can be rebellious and empower through ridicule, joy and real solidarity. Art can cross boundaries and undo the same. If I were a local in Kabul, perhaps I’d like a balloon to break the daily grind on my way to work. Still, I’d be outraged how someone might think that this would imply some kind of equal ownership in the process or that this would make up for all the suffering caused both by domestic and international forces.
Twisting it around, if I was a privileged artist from a safe spot on the earth, with the time and resource to stage art on a mass-scale in the true spirit of “equal ownership”, I’d make sure that all involved parties would have a say throughout the working process and the final implementation.
M. M.
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