Performing Human Rights – Contested Amnesia and Aesthetic Practices in the Global South

This collection examines how artists and activists confront the invisibility of political violence, focusing on human rights performances in various global contexts, including Performing Human Rights.

In Performing Human Rights – Contested Amnesia and Aesthetic Practices in the Global South, the authors explore the often overlooked aspects of political violence and its lingering effects in both conflict and post-conflict environments. The book delves into how these experiences are frequently rendered invisible, leaving behind material traces and spatial manifestations that speak to the broader implications of historical amnesia. By examining the roles of artists, writers, and human rights activists, the collection reveals a concerted effort to challenge this invisibility and confront the narratives that have been silenced over time.

The concept of 'performance' is pivotal to this work, as it encompasses repetitive, aesthetic practices that shape both individual and collective identities. Through various forms of expression, such as speech and bodily habits, the contributors investigate how human rights can be performed in transitional contexts across Spain, Latin America, and the Middle East. This multidisciplinary approach brings together scholars, artists, writers, and curators, creating a rich dialogue around the complexities of memory and justice.

Ultimately, Performing Human Rights highlights the significance of alternative institutional spaces and innovative strategies of cultural production. By doing so, it sheds light on the processes of historical justice and collective memory, urging readers to reconsider the narratives that shape our understanding of human rights in the Global South.