dima

  • Solidarity

    Would you pick up a hammer and smash a window? Fighting against inequality of all kind needs allies. Showing support without being affected yourself is a tool to stand with the people concerned; but in what way? In celebration of the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote and being able to be elected into parliament in the UK, "Solidarity"poses the question of how to fight in solidarity and stand with marginalised people by appropriating the toffee hammer, used by the suffragette movement of the early 20th century in order to gain visibility for their fight for women’s votes. It was used to smash windows all over London and because of its handy and inconspicuous matter, the toffee hammer was an easily accessible tool proven to be very effective. The reproductions are featured in the suffragette’s colour scheme, designed by Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence, of purple for loyalty and dignity, white for purity, and green for hope. Wearing these colours was a way of showing solidarity with the cause and by simply doing that putting a target on the wearers back. "Solidarity" functions as a call for smashing ideologies of sexism, gender-inequality and oppression of all kinds, questioning the viewers to reflect on their roles as supporters in the fights for equality.