To work through the conception and design of memorial and democratic public spaces more generally requires a persistent attempt to work within and to transform the public domain in our contemporary cities . Cities have typically built memorials and historic landmarks that celebrate the memory of those they define as “ heroes ”. In so doing , cities have explicitly not created environments where the voices of the nameless and vanquished , the victims , witnesses , and “ survivors ” of today ’ s or yesterday ’ s crimes and injustices can be heard . At the same time , we should note that in our present – despite the Covid-19 pandemic where the other can be seen as source of contagion , as a source of fear – significant movements and protests against racism , as well as against forms of representation of oppression and oppressors , are taking place . As a very important example , the Black Lives Matter movement taking to the streets in the United States and around the globe strongly reaffirms and makes visibly visible that public space , and by extension the democratic public space , is indeed a space for assertion of political and cultural
rights and of public appearance . In a powerful way and in defiance of fear , people all over the world , in solidarity with victims and survivors of past and present injustices , are standing with and close to each other acting as witnesses and agents of significant processes , protests and actions . These processes are effectively disrupting the ‘ continuity of the history of victors ’ and of many cities ’ symbolic narratives . The dismantling , transformation and removal of monuments – erected in the past to support mythical and false versions of histories as well as to celebrate violent hegemonic figures – are clear manifestations that the fundamental struggle to establish a more just society , continues to play out in our democratic public spaces .
To continue this path and to accompany these public processes , I would like to suggest that , we , as artists , cultural agents and architects who want to deepen and extend the significance of the public domain have a twofold task : to create works and public programs that , one , help those who have been rendered invisible to “ make their appearance
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Figure 4 - George Floyd March in Nantes at Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery | Photo : Frank Dubray – Ouest France overview
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