This untitled artwork was made by Barbara Kruger in 1985. She is an American conceptual artist who uses photographs and different typos to critique the modern world of consumerism and make statements regarding feminism, power, identity, and sexuality.
This particular piece is composed of nine squared photographs with different words on them. Some of them are lithographs and others are screenprints that together spell: “We will no longer be seen and not heard”. Most of the pictures are black and white with only one other color that contrasts with each word displayed in it.
This piece relates to what has been happening in Chile during the past three weeks. After the government raised the subway fare students decided to protest by evading to pay on October 19th, 2019. This manifestation turned into something bigger because of the violent acts of the Chilean police on that day. A thing that started as a student protest ended in all Santiago manifesting on the streets, more than 19 subway stations burned and chaos around the city. That night the president Sebastian Piñera decided to declare a national state of emergency, bringing the military to the streets, and imposing a curfew on the people.
Ever since that day, Chile’s constant manifestations have occurred all over the country. What started out because of a raise in 30 pesos turned into a protest because of the last 30 years of injustices the Chilean people have had to deal with. Ever since the Pinochet dictatorship ended his constitution is still active, and education and the health system, as well as the country’s economy, only benefit a few. Chile’s index of inequality is one of the highest in the world and as many people say in the manifestations “Chile woke up” so the people will not stop manifesting until serious changes have been made.
The phrase “ we will no longer be seen and not heard” represents exactly the message the Chilean people are saying to the president: We will no longer take the injustices and accept them; when you know that they exist and do nothing about them. It was very surprising seeing that piece there because it summed up the Chilean situation perfectly.
