Growing Out of the Establishment

Growing out of the Establishment
November 29, 2023
Our Playground
Seattle, WA

Curated by Rosaline Dou and Megan Lam

Coexistence means the state or fact of living or existing at the same time or place, which indicates a shared, equal peace within the coexistence. Coexistence can be explored as the resilience of nature, observing how it reclaims space even as humans disrupt its environment. Acknowledging the shared yet skewed landscape we live in, we raise pertinent questions about the entities and mechanisms responsible for shaping our natural and built environments—growing out of the establishment. The term “establishment” here is intentionally left ambiguous, inviting interpretations ranging from urban cities to societal institutions, and encompassing both micro and macro perspectives.

We constructed a physical roadmaps leading the visitors through a conceptual roadmap of artists in different stages navigating systems of establishment: confronting the crisis, finding moments of solace amidst turmoil, and finally, engaging with the conflict through a dual commitment to advocacy and achieving a harmonious balance. This roadmap is also a means to foster group engagement. Different colors of the map are designed to pair up visitors, encouraging them to experience the exhibition collaboratively.