British Street Artist S.o.S
On thursday 12. of November 2015
S.o.S. will speak in the Austrian parliament
about Female genital mutilation in the European Union
This campaign focuses on the issues of FGM and forced child marriage. S.o.S. chose Alice as she represents the archetypal yet stereotypical British girl at the age that young girls are most at risk of this procedure. She was using a statistic for here in the UK, and wanted to put that into perspective. By representing this young blond haired, blue eyed girl holding back a curtain with a sinister hidden message, she aimed to draw attention to the fact that mainstream media coverage in general does not prioritise cases of atrocity and violence that are happening in the heart of our communities, When we look at the government statistics we see that indeed this is a very British problem with 65,000 girls at risk per year in the UK alone.“
S.o.S will be giving a speech about
„Inclusive Street Art, in what ways can feminism be explored through street art?”
The seminar will be at the university of arts Vienna on 13th of November,
Hörsaal B, Unicampus (Hof 2), Spitalgasse 2 in Vienna from 7pm to 9pm.
„My research project has helped me to underpin my practice and understanding of feminism which manifests through the creation of images and text in response to current issues which I feel need highlighting. Attempting to pin down a verbal definition of feminism as quoted by someone in an ever changing world which we are shaping feels almost impossible. Aiming for the inclusion of everyone in my process is the approach which was fostered throughout the project, to mirror the point that feminism is an inclusive movement. The way I measure the success of an artistic intervention in the street is how many individuals are able to engage with my art which carries a message of equality for both men and women.“
„During my research into the street arts scene, I have found everyone, including the male artists I have met and collaborated with, to be helpful, willing to share tips as well as being supportive, mindful and generally inclusive in their approach. It is said that male street artists outnumber their female counterparts 10:1 and its interesting to note that most of the female street artists I have met and interviewed have waited for invitation or “legal” wall space to be allocated to them or they tend to create their own events in order to ensure safe spaces to practice their art. I have found there is a lot to be learned surrounding the issue of what permission we grant ourselves as female artists from this process. Particularly when drawing parallels between women’s success and representation within the art-world and other industries. Using spray-paint, stencil and paste up enabled me to work in spaces that feel hyper masculine and my aim was to redress the balance through a „woman’s touch.“ I wanted to create interpretations and interventions which introduced something different in terms of look and style so they would feel unique to the public and be noticed and interacted with as a result.“
About S.o.S
“As I grow as an artist, I’ve become increasingly aware, concerned and motivated surrounding issues of ethics, sustainability and of course the impact on political agendas through my creative practice.”
She is interested in using her conceptual skills and her ability to tune into changes in social trends in order to help change perceptions and create positive social change. She would like to make art accessible to as many people as possible, including more hard to reach or vulnerable individuals. Through her MA Inclusive Arts Practice at the University of Brighton she specialised in creating art interventions in the street for her final arts research project. After investing hundreds of hours into this genre, she is beginning to understand how the almost simple act of creating a mural, or using spray paint to engage with youth, is a powerful medium to communicate. Street art and graffiti writing as a genre can have a really positive effect on the community by transforming urban spaces which may be traditionally considered neglected because of tagging issues into spaces that the whole community would like to see. Even artwork which is painted over in the street can still do it’s work for a cause via social media, and this is something she had learned through her practice when her Alice against FGM mural’s message was spread on-line when she participated in Femme Fierce 2015.
MORE About the Artist S.o.S: http://iamsos.com/
Report
This report aims to support policy makers and all relevant institutions by providing them with reliable and comparable data for evidence-based actions and policy improvement in the area of FGM. It also provides recommendations on how to protect girls, women and the European society from this destructive and devastating expression of power, and on how to give sufficient support to the girls and women who have fallen victim to this crime.
The report presents among its recommendations a suggestion to implement legal provisions to criminalise FGM. It also points out the need for specialised services for victims of gender-based violence, including counseling and shelters.
MORE:
http://eige.europa.eu/rdc/eige-publications/female-genital-mutilation-european-union-report
