Janira Moncayo
If these spaces were safe, 2021
If these spaces were safe is a series of videos exploring the idea of an idealistic place, where people of color can just breathe. As the public setting becomes a reflection of privilege and power imbalance, creating an unsafe atmosphere for minorities, people of color take on the responsibility to be hyper-vigilant of their surroundings and being potentially targeted. If these spaces were safe fantasizes that if such rigid structures of inequality did no exist, people of color could almost dance carefree on the street. However, the artwork is self-aware of its state as imaginary and reveals that these spaces are fabricated through post-production. At least for now and with hope for the future, we can only imagine how we would live in these spaces through the security of a closed and controlled studio.
Special thank you to Alexander Moon and Levin Ifko for contributing to the recording and technical development of this piece.