This conversation event invites to join members of the Shared Campus Critical Ecologies group to discuss positions, perspectives and practices relating to different values and needs within our ecological and planetary crisis.
Hosted by Heather Barnett (UAL) with invited contributions from Joëlle Bitton (ZHdK), Yanki Lee (HK/Växjö) and Yatin Lin (TNUA), who will share their processes and practices, and open them up for ideation about future shared dialogue and collaboration.
10:00 - 11:00am (GMT+1)
11:00am - 12:00pm CEST
05:00 - 06:00pm HK & Taipei time
Presentations and discussion
- Short Break -
11:10am - 12:00pm (GMT+1)
12:10 - 1:00pm CEST
06:10 - 07:00pm Hong Kong & Taipei time
Working groups exploring potential transcultural practices and pedagogies.
The session will take place on Zoom and Miro.
My input will provide a brief overview and context of 'Hacking Values', an investigation of both the terms “hacking” and “values", inviting a personal reflection on our agencies as designers and artists and on our tendencies, wishes, fantasies, even sometimes delusions to create an impact on the world. With the term “Hacking”, I do not (only) mean the popular meaning of "hacking into computer systems". The term can mean a range of playful and practical interventions. 'Hacking' can also suggest to manipulate or alienate a system, an object, etc. for specific purposes. As to the term “values”, it brings an often-overlooked agent of our own decision-making: with what values do we operate and interact with others, humans and non-humans? Are we able to recognise them and hack our own set of values?
Together the terms "Hacking Values" could thus be understood as a method to recognise internal and external systems and structures of power, and possibly to begin challenging their authority.
As a global citizen, I research and teach between Hong Kong, London and Växjö.
As a design activist, with architectural design background I founded Enable Foundation, a social design collective and an education charity. I co-design objects and exhibitions as co-creative tools with my team and collaborators that unlock wicked social problems using immerse design methodologies.
As a design researcher, I started my career on self-reflective discussions about human-centred design practice, i.e., how far could designers co-design with people? Who are those people? Users? Clients? Citizens? and constantly referring to the phase of “design for/with/by people”. Now, the discussion is extended from human to non-human. Sounds like the act can also expand to “design as people” or even “design as the others”.
Being part of critical thinkers-doers community, I refer to Morton’s (2018) conclusion, “You don’t have to be ecological. Because you are ecological.” Same for us, we don’t need to be critical but we are critical with multiple perspectives to any issues, i.e., the emergence of Critical Ecologie(s). www.yankilee.com www.enable.org.hk
“Critical Ecologies: Bodies and Indigeneity” (2019, 2020) looks into various “types of ecology” (natural, as well as social, political, artistic and even academic), with a focus on the beautiful landscape and rich indigenous cultural heritage from Taiwan’s east coast.
By participating in the Puyuma people’s new year’s ritual, and attending various workshops by indigenous visual artist (Eleng Luluan), as well as performing artists (Adaw Palaf Langasan of Langasan Theatre, Bulareyaung Pagarlava Dance Company, Watan Tusi of the TAI Body Theatre, and Kuo-Shin Chuang of Pangcah Dance Theatre), we hope to learn about Indigenous ways of embodiment and the close relationship among the ecologies.