Dare to Cross the Line

What does it mean to nurture inclusive, diverse, tolerant, or equal communities? How do we read these ideas beyond PR campaigns or university brochures and instead, tap into our everyday realities to create spaces for deeper awareness and transformation?

On 16 November, 2023, educator, artist, and Fall 2023 resident Smita Rajmane lead a workshop-performance where we reflected upon our everyday interactions with one another and the ways in which we navigate our shared social fabric.

Through experimental games and role play exercises, the workshop prompted us to move away from theoretical discourse and pay attention to our personal lived experiences to re-examine ideas of inclusion and diversity: who are the voices we share our homes, schools, workplaces, and cities with? How do the languages we speak help us move ahead or set us back? What is our common ground? Can our differences help nurture generative spaces for exchange, awareness, and empathy?

The first workshop was from 5-6PM that was geared towards young adults between the ages 16-25. The second workshop was from 6.30-7.30PM and was open to all.

Venue: Warehouse 50, Project Space | Google Pin

Each workshop session was followed by a round of discussion, along with refreshments.

About the Resident

Smita Urmila Rajmane is a public intervention artist, performer and educator. "The major themes of Smita's work deal with societal norms that arise from class/caste and gender discrimination, communal violence, the projections of hate and the differences that pervade today’s world. Her work deals with researching, unravelling and highlighting these issues through archival installations and public performances. She is building curriculums and curating shows for school students to build teaching learning spaces focused on social conscious pedagogical approaches. She has done performances and public installations titled ‘The battle of Ram-Rajya’, ‘Smash the Brahmanical patriarchy’ and ‘The Ambedkar Age Digital bookmobile’ in various cities and towns in India as well as in Europe.