[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] hi my name is sabotage and slightly
hi my name is sabotage and slightly
hi my name is sabotage and slightly different than Saba but I’m an artist
different than Saba but I’m an artist
different than Saba but I’m an artist and an activist and behind me you see a
and an activist and behind me you see a
and an activist and behind me you see a series of paintings that I made in 2011
series of paintings that I made in 2011
series of paintings that I made in 2011 titled Technicolor muslimah it’s a
titled Technicolor muslimah it’s a
titled Technicolor muslimah it’s a series of portraits of American Muslim
series of portraits of American Muslim
series of portraits of American Muslim women and my aim with this work was to
women and my aim with this work was to
women and my aim with this work was to humanize Muslim women to say it slightly
humanize Muslim women to say it slightly
humanize Muslim women to say it slightly differently I as a Muslim woman felt it
differently I as a Muslim woman felt it
differently I as a Muslim woman felt it was my responsibility as an artist to
was my responsibility as an artist to
was my responsibility as an artist to make Muslims appear to be more human
make Muslims appear to be more human
make Muslims appear to be more human that’s dark I was 15 when 9/11 happened
that’s dark I was 15 when 9/11 happened
that’s dark I was 15 when 9/11 happened our mosque received bomb threats my
our mosque received bomb threats my
our mosque received bomb threats my friends were assaulted and spit on at
friends were assaulted and spit on at
friends were assaulted and spit on at school and we were afraid now 16 years
school and we were afraid now 16 years
school and we were afraid now 16 years later it feels like not a lot has
later it feels like not a lot has
later it feels like not a lot has changed Islamophobia is still as rampant
changed Islamophobia is still as rampant
changed Islamophobia is still as rampant as ever and to humanize Muslims to make
as ever and to humanize Muslims to make
as ever and to humanize Muslims to make Muslims appear to be more human is a
Muslims appear to be more human is a
Muslims appear to be more human is a radical act in this climate is a
radical act in this climate is a
radical act in this climate is a political statement Islamic phobia
political statement Islamic phobia
political statement Islamic phobia operates through a systemic
operates through a systemic
operates through a systemic dehumanization black folks Muslims trans
dehumanization black folks Muslims trans
dehumanization black folks Muslims trans folks so many more are characterized as
folks so many more are characterized as
folks so many more are characterized as others or not fully human
others or not fully human
others or not fully human instead described as savage as criminal
instead described as savage as criminal
instead described as savage as criminal or terrorist fetish in all threats to
or terrorist fetish in all threats to
or terrorist fetish in all threats to public safety and morality and it is no
public safety and morality and it is no
public safety and morality and it is no mistake that this notion of public
mistake that this notion of public
mistake that this notion of public safety does not include those
safety does not include those
safety does not include those individuals who are most vulnerable and
individuals who are most vulnerable and
individuals who are most vulnerable and most at risk to systemic oppression to
most at risk to systemic oppression to
most at risk to systemic oppression to state sanctioned violence to prejudice
state sanctioned violence to prejudice
state sanctioned violence to prejudice into hate crimes this systemic
into hate crimes this systemic
into hate crimes this systemic dehumanization
dehumanization
dehumanization is communicated through the dominant
is communicated through the dominant
is communicated through the dominant narrative this is a lens through which
narrative this is a lens through which
narrative this is a lens through which reality is represented it’s a story of
reality is represented it’s a story of
reality is represented it’s a story of truth that is curated by those in power
truth that is curated by those in power
truth that is curated by those in power that centers the humanity and
that centers the humanity and
that centers the humanity and perspectives of white heterosexual
perspectives of white heterosexual
perspectives of white heterosexual assist men above and over all others
assist men above and over all others
assist men above and over all others this capitalist cultural machine
this capitalist cultural machine
this capitalist cultural machine operates in binary thinking that
operates in binary thinking that
operates in binary thinking that categorizes us into a hierarchical
categorizes us into a hierarchical
categorizes us into a hierarchical structure based on our closeness to or
structure based on our closeness to or
structure based on our closeness to or our contrast to said white heterosexual
our contrast to said white heterosexual
our contrast to said white heterosexual assist men it is reinforced through our
assist men it is reinforced through our
assist men it is reinforced through our government our institutions and
government our institutions and
government our institutions and individuals and by and large the public
individuals and by and large the public
individuals and by and large the public both passively and actively consumes
both passively and actively consumes
both passively and actively consumes upholds and replicates this narrative of
upholds and replicates this narrative of
upholds and replicates this narrative of white supremacy and hetero patriarchy so
white supremacy and hetero patriarchy so
white supremacy and hetero patriarchy so I grew up not really going to galleries
I grew up not really going to galleries
I grew up not really going to galleries even as an artist now or museums but
even as an artist now or museums but
even as an artist now or museums but consuming media and lots of it and I
consuming media and lots of it and I
consuming media and lots of it and I still do TV media social media popular
still do TV media social media popular
still do TV media social media popular music and magazines and while now I’m
music and magazines and while now I’m
music and magazines and while now I’m incredibly aware of the shortcomings of
incredibly aware of the shortcomings of
incredibly aware of the shortcomings of such things as a young person I bought
such things as a young person I bought
such things as a young person I bought into this dominant narrative I saw these
into this dominant narrative I saw these
into this dominant narrative I saw these things as truthful and was looking to
things as truthful and was looking to
things as truthful and was looking to find myself within them and instead I
find myself within them and instead I
find myself within them and instead I most of the time didn’t find myself and
most of the time didn’t find myself and
most of the time didn’t find myself and when I did it was highly problematic
when I did it was highly problematic
when I did it was highly problematic behind me you see National Geographic
behind me you see National Geographic
behind me you see National Geographic and Indian vogue within the National
and Indian vogue within the National
and Indian vogue within the National Geographic we see the fetishization and
Geographic we see the fetishization and
Geographic we see the fetishization and other ring of black and brown people
other ring of black and brown people
other ring of black and brown people their cultures and their suffering on
their cultures and their suffering on
their cultures and their suffering on the other side vogue India which is full
the other side vogue India which is full
the other side vogue India which is full of some beautiful stuff but also we see
of some beautiful stuff but also we see
of some beautiful stuff but also we see this internalization of the dominant
this internalization of the dominant
this internalization of the dominant narrative and things like bleach creams
narrative and things like bleach creams
narrative and things like bleach creams and it is not subtle in that this
and it is not subtle in that this
and it is not subtle in that this product is called white
product is called white
product is called white effect and so in my newer work I
effect and so in my newer work I
effect and so in my newer work I returned to these materials and this
returned to these materials and this
returned to these materials and this time not as passive consumer but
time not as passive consumer but
time not as passive consumer but critical creative agent and I ripped
critical creative agent and I ripped
critical creative agent and I ripped them into pieces and made a big mess um
them into pieces and made a big mess um
them into pieces and made a big mess um and this process of like severing arms
and this process of like severing arms
and this process of like severing arms and gouging out eyes I mean like in
and gouging out eyes I mean like in
and gouging out eyes I mean like in magazines is empowering it is cathartic
magazines is empowering it is cathartic
magazines is empowering it is cathartic and it felt something like vengeance and
and it felt something like vengeance and
and it felt something like vengeance and from these clippings I created new forms
from these clippings I created new forms
from these clippings I created new forms and this is a kind of self determination
and this is a kind of self determination
and this is a kind of self determination within the limits of the materials and
within the limits of the materials and
within the limits of the materials and language of the dominant narrative I
language of the dominant narrative I
language of the dominant narrative I made monsters black and brown femme
made monsters black and brown femme
made monsters black and brown femme monsters in a story about destruction
monsters in a story about destruction
monsters in a story about destruction and transformation and these are the
and transformation and these are the
and transformation and these are the major players they are the warriors and
major players they are the warriors and
major players they are the warriors and survivors who will inherit the earth
survivors who will inherit the earth
survivors who will inherit the earth after an apocalypse after a revolution
after an apocalypse after a revolution
after an apocalypse after a revolution who faced down white supremacy and win
who faced down white supremacy and win
who faced down white supremacy and win their bodies bear scars a record of
their bodies bear scars a record of
their bodies bear scars a record of oppression of a inherited trauma and
oppression of a inherited trauma and
oppression of a inherited trauma and hybridity they both reflect and subvert
hybridity they both reflect and subvert
hybridity they both reflect and subvert representations of beauty humanity and
representations of beauty humanity and
representations of beauty humanity and violence this concept of hybridity is
violence this concept of hybridity is
violence this concept of hybridity is really important to the work and
really important to the work and
really important to the work and thinking about how life is valued upon
thinking about how life is valued upon
thinking about how life is valued upon hierarchies to combine human and animal
hierarchies to combine human and animal
hierarchies to combine human and animal or human and reptile or insect is
or human and reptile or insect is
or human and reptile or insect is typically something that would be
typically something that would be
typically something that would be disempowering and is kind of literally
disempowering and is kind of literally
disempowering and is kind of literally dehumanizing but here it’s a reclamation
dehumanizing but here it’s a reclamation
dehumanizing but here it’s a reclamation of the grotesque the way that we have
of the grotesque the way that we have
of the grotesque the way that we have been characterized as people of color
been characterized as people of color
been characterized as people of color and now it becomes a source of power
and now it becomes a source of power
and now it becomes a source of power they embody the liminal the in-between
they embody the liminal the in-between
they embody the liminal the in-between which for me was a reflection of my own
which for me was a reflection of my own
which for me was a reflection of my own cultural hybridity growing up in a space
cultural hybridity growing up in a space
cultural hybridity growing up in a space between Pakistani and American
between Pakistani and American
between Pakistani and American in the question mark between the
in the question mark between the
in the question mark between the systemically opposed queer and Muslim
systemically opposed queer and Muslim
systemically opposed queer and Muslim and they assert that there is a
and they assert that there is a
and they assert that there is a possibility for wholeness that exists
possibility for wholeness that exists
possibility for wholeness that exists beyond binaries this metaphorical
beyond binaries this metaphorical
beyond binaries this metaphorical destruction of the dominant narrative
destruction of the dominant narrative
destruction of the dominant narrative and to create something entirely new
and to create something entirely new
and to create something entirely new from its parts is much like the idea of
from its parts is much like the idea of
from its parts is much like the idea of revolution and this story of destruction
revolution and this story of destruction
revolution and this story of destruction and transformation of death and rebirth
and transformation of death and rebirth
and transformation of death and rebirth of the end of one world and the
of the end of one world and the
of the end of one world and the beginning of another has been told and
beginning of another has been told and
beginning of another has been told and retold in so many traditions personally
retold in so many traditions personally
retold in so many traditions personally I like to reference Islamic stories
I like to reference Islamic stories
I like to reference Islamic stories sometimes very specifically and
sometimes very specifically and
sometimes very specifically and sometimes more loosely behind me or to
sometimes more loosely behind me or to
sometimes more loosely behind me or to details from a work called the return of
details from a work called the return of
details from a work called the return of Hazrat ISA which is a story of the
Hazrat ISA which is a story of the
Hazrat ISA which is a story of the return of Hazrat ISA or prophet Jesus
return of Hazrat ISA or prophet Jesus
return of Hazrat ISA or prophet Jesus who comes back to defeat the Dajjal or
who comes back to defeat the Dajjal or
who comes back to defeat the Dajjal or the Antichrist and if you can see here
the Antichrist and if you can see here
the Antichrist and if you can see here in the this gold figure there’s
in the this gold figure there’s
in the this gold figure there’s clippings of someone you might recognize
clippings of someone you might recognize
clippings of someone you might recognize it’s not a drop and overall in this work
it’s not a drop and overall in this work
it’s not a drop and overall in this work I articulate the enemy in a few
I articulate the enemy in a few
I articulate the enemy in a few different kinds of ways well there’s
different kinds of ways well there’s
different kinds of ways well there’s this consistency that it is weight
this consistency that it is weight
this consistency that it is weight supremacy it’s depicted quite fluidly
supremacy it’s depicted quite fluidly
supremacy it’s depicted quite fluidly and one of those forms is the evil eye
and one of those forms is the evil eye
and one of those forms is the evil eye which some of you all might have seen
which some of you all might have seen
which some of you all might have seen before and it’s hanging from my ear to
this symbol is it’s actually a belief
this symbol is it’s actually a belief that’s upheld both regionally in South
that’s upheld both regionally in South
that’s upheld both regionally in South Asia and Islamic Lee in the Quran and
Asia and Islamic Lee in the Quran and
Asia and Islamic Lee in the Quran and it’s this idea that harm can be caused
it’s this idea that harm can be caused
it’s this idea that harm can be caused from another’s gaze even if their
from another’s gaze even if their
from another’s gaze even if their intentions are neutral that just they’re
intentions are neutral that just they’re
intentions are neutral that just they’re witnessing of you can cause actual
witnessing of you can cause actual
witnessing of you can cause actual physical harm and misfortune and one
physical harm and misfortune and one
physical harm and misfortune and one mode of protecting yourself amongst many
mode of protecting yourself amongst many
mode of protecting yourself amongst many it’s to wear a representation of the
it’s to wear a representation of the
it’s to wear a representation of the evil eye and so this as a form this blue
evil eye and so this as a form this blue
evil eye and so this as a form this blue eye as well as this idea of wearing the
eye as well as this idea of wearing the
eye as well as this idea of wearing the thing that you want to protect yourself
thing that you want to protect yourself
thing that you want to protect yourself from
from
from was really compelling to me and so
was really compelling to me and so
was really compelling to me and so utilize it throughout the work as this
utilize it throughout the work as this
utilize it throughout the work as this to you know representation of the enemy
to you know representation of the enemy
to you know representation of the enemy but its shape shifts at some times it
but its shape shifts at some times it
but its shape shifts at some times it shows up in as an embodied form pretty
shows up in as an embodied form pretty
shows up in as an embodied form pretty straightforward
straightforward
straightforward at other times disembodied object here
at other times disembodied object here
at other times disembodied object here just the eyeballs and also internalized
just the eyeballs and also internalized
just the eyeballs and also internalized illness so in wearing this thing that we
illness so in wearing this thing that we
illness so in wearing this thing that we want to protect ourselves from at what
want to protect ourselves from at what
want to protect ourselves from at what point does it come inside of our bodies
point does it come inside of our bodies
point does it come inside of our bodies become part of how we see the world and
become part of how we see the world and
become part of how we see the world and finally is worn on the forehead of the
finally is worn on the forehead of the
finally is worn on the forehead of the revolutionaries of this story as a at
revolutionaries of this story as a at
revolutionaries of this story as a at this position of the third eye as a
this position of the third eye as a
this position of the third eye as a symbol of wakefulness and awareness this
symbol of wakefulness and awareness this
symbol of wakefulness and awareness this work operates as resistance through non
work operates as resistance through non
work operates as resistance through non binary representations through
binary representations through
binary representations through subversions of the dominant narrative
subversions of the dominant narrative
subversions of the dominant narrative and its materials through a centering of
and its materials through a centering of
and its materials through a centering of the subjectivity of queer Femmes of
the subjectivity of queer Femmes of
the subjectivity of queer Femmes of color it takes a critical look at the
color it takes a critical look at the
color it takes a critical look at the current state of things and radically
current state of things and radically
current state of things and radically imagines liberation it is empowering and
imagines liberation it is empowering and
imagines liberation it is empowering and healing to make this kind of thing and
healing to make this kind of thing and
healing to make this kind of thing and it’s something that keeps me going I
it’s something that keeps me going I
it’s something that keeps me going I have the opportunity to share this work
have the opportunity to share this work
have the opportunity to share this work in galleries and spaces like this which
in galleries and spaces like this which
in galleries and spaces like this which is amazing and that’s all really great
is amazing and that’s all really great
is amazing and that’s all really great except for the fact that art is also a
except for the fact that art is also a
except for the fact that art is also a pretty messed up institution and it
pretty messed up institution and it
pretty messed up institution and it really reflects the biases of the
really reflects the biases of the
really reflects the biases of the dominant narrative they have serious
dominant narrative they have serious
dominant narrative they have serious issues with representation and it is not
issues with representation and it is not
issues with representation and it is not a neutral space and not one that is
a neutral space and not one that is
a neutral space and not one that is accessible to the the public at large it
accessible to the the public at large it
accessible to the the public at large it is one that the people who are included
is one that the people who are included
is one that the people who are included in it are the ones who have been
in it are the ones who have been
in it are the ones who have been afforded a certain level of access based
afforded a certain level of access based
afforded a certain level of access based on race class and education and there is
on race class and education and there is
on race class and education and there is so much art that
so much art that
so much art that this outside of these spaces that isn’t
this outside of these spaces that isn’t
this outside of these spaces that isn’t named art with a capital A it’s yet
named art with a capital A it’s yet
named art with a capital A it’s yet another way that marginalized
another way that marginalized
another way that marginalized individuals are systemically
individuals are systemically
individuals are systemically disempowered because their art will most
disempowered because their art will most
disempowered because their art will most certainly not be named art unless they
certainly not be named art unless they
certainly not be named art unless they can make it to the top of the access
can make it to the top of the access
can make it to the top of the access ladder first this is art Greenpeace
ladder first this is art Greenpeace
ladder first this is art Greenpeace International activists five days after
International activists five days after
International activists five days after inauguration put up this banner right by
inauguration put up this banner right by
inauguration put up this banner right by the White House this is a public
the White House this is a public
the White House this is a public expression and it is resistance because
expression and it is resistance because
expression and it is resistance because it’s an expression of non-compliance
it’s an expression of non-compliance
it’s an expression of non-compliance with the presidency with the current
with the presidency with the current
with the presidency with the current administration and it is a call to
administration and it is a call to
administration and it is a call to action
action
action it is widely accessible in the way it’s
it is widely accessible in the way it’s
it is widely accessible in the way it’s presented it’s something that we can
presented it’s something that we can
presented it’s something that we can literally read and understand this is
literally read and understand this is
literally read and understand this is art this is performance performing
art this is performance performing
art this is performance performing non-compliance with corrupt and
non-compliance with corrupt and
non-compliance with corrupt and oppressive norms protest is considerate
oppressive norms protest is considerate
oppressive norms protest is considerate of its participants its audience its
of its participants its audience its
of its participants its audience its messaging and its context sometimes it
messaging and its context sometimes it
messaging and its context sometimes it can even be choreographed protests
can even be choreographed protests
can even be choreographed protests references strategies especially in
references strategies especially in
references strategies especially in particular black lives matter protest
particular black lives matter protest
particular black lives matter protest represents references strategies of the
represents references strategies of the
represents references strategies of the civil rights movement there is clear-cut
civil rights movement there is clear-cut
civil rights movement there is clear-cut accessible yet deeply layered messaging
accessible yet deeply layered messaging
accessible yet deeply layered messaging like black lives matter people gather in
like black lives matter people gather in
like black lives matter people gather in public space and they are highly visible
public space and they are highly visible
public space and they are highly visible and highly vulnerable and they disrupt
and highly vulnerable and they disrupt
and highly vulnerable and they disrupt business as usual but it’s constantly
business as usual but it’s constantly
business as usual but it’s constantly diminished graffiti and protests are
diminished graffiti and protests are
diminished graffiti and protests are deemed criminal or frivolous vandalism
deemed criminal or frivolous vandalism
deemed criminal or frivolous vandalism riots when in fact they are often
riots when in fact they are often
riots when in fact they are often thoughtful artistic expressions of
thoughtful artistic expressions of
thoughtful artistic expressions of dissent police confrontations sometimes
dissent police confrontations sometimes
dissent police confrontations sometimes results and this serves to further
results and this serves to further
results and this serves to further illustrate the conflict between the
illustrate the conflict between the
illustrate the conflict between the dignity of people of color and black
dignity of people of color and black
dignity of people of color and black folks in particular in this country and
folks in particular in this country and
folks in particular in this country and a police state that has been the violent
a police state that has been the violent
a police state that has been the violent and races
and races
and races arm of mass incarceration and so to move
arm of mass incarceration and so to move
arm of mass incarceration and so to move forward what do we do one thing is to
forward what do we do one thing is to
forward what do we do one thing is to consistently personally with our friends
consistently personally with our friends
consistently personally with our friends push back against the dominant narrative
push back against the dominant narrative
push back against the dominant narrative see it name it also to redefine identify
see it name it also to redefine identify
see it name it also to redefine identify and support art and artists outside of
and support art and artists outside of
and support art and artists outside of the dominant narrative and one way that
the dominant narrative and one way that
the dominant narrative and one way that we can do this is to support and create
we can do this is to support and create
we can do this is to support and create alternative spaces one such space exists
alternative spaces one such space exists
alternative spaces one such space exists here in Durham Durham
here in Durham Durham
here in Durham Durham artists movement is a group of artists
artists movement is a group of artists
artists movement is a group of artists activists who connect art and activism
activists who connect art and activism
activists who connect art and activism with a local focus we Center the
with a local focus we Center the
with a local focus we Center the leadership voices and membership of
leadership voices and membership of
leadership voices and membership of queer people of color and we’re cute and
queer people of color and we’re cute and
queer people of color and we’re cute and we understand that our creative actions
we understand that our creative actions
we understand that our creative actions as marginalized people is an act of
as marginalized people is an act of
as marginalized people is an act of resistance in a system that seeks to
resistance in a system that seeks to
resistance in a system that seeks to silence us we recognize the connections
silence us we recognize the connections
silence us we recognize the connections between art and healing between
between art and healing between
between art and healing between resistance and resilience and strive to
resistance and resilience and strive to
resistance and resilience and strive to expand arts access and with active
expand arts access and with active
expand arts access and with active inclusivity and a shared anti-racist
inclusivity and a shared anti-racist
inclusivity and a shared anti-racist politic and we have fun while doing it
art is activism is any and all
art is activism is any and all expressions of non-compliance with
expressions of non-compliance with
expressions of non-compliance with corrupt and oppressive norms it is a
corrupt and oppressive norms it is a
corrupt and oppressive norms it is a conversation with the dominant narrative
conversation with the dominant narrative
conversation with the dominant narrative and it is our responsibility as artists
and it is our responsibility as artists
and it is our responsibility as artists as innovators as people who care to join
as innovators as people who care to join
as innovators as people who care to join that conversation activism has always
that conversation activism has always
that conversation activism has always been a willingness to imagine and create
been a willingness to imagine and create
been a willingness to imagine and create alternatives to what has always been to
alternatives to what has always been to
alternatives to what has always been to what is right now and so I know one
what is right now and so I know one
what is right now and so I know one thing for certain the resistance will be
thing for certain the resistance will be
thing for certain the resistance will be creative thank you
creative thank you
creative thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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