Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread violations of human rights. Women and girls experience and fear various types of violence in public spaces. It happens in parks, on streets, buses, and trains, near schools and hospitals, public toilets, and markets and water and food distribution sites in diverse settings. This fear and experience of violence impact women’s rights to the city.

“Light the Dark” approaches the theme of ending violence against women and girls with the interdisciplinary, pluralistic and free language of contemporary art. In the exhibition, 12 contemporary artists meet on the common ground of the metaphorical discourse “Light the Dark” using “light” as the material for their work, including neon, LED, Spotlights, bulbs, and others, incorporated within the natural fabric of the public space. The exhibition constitutes a contemporary art project, which aims to raise public awareness on several issues based on gender inequalities.

We would like to re-exhibit this thematic art-activism-lighting combined work at 2021 Bienalsur in another geography, where the pandemic of violence increasingly continues amid COVID-19.  BienalSur is a platform connecting the arts and the general public with eliminating the geographical borders, believing in global culture, and using the power of public space. Therefore, we believe that the mandate of our exhibition aligns heavily with the grounds and purpose of the Biennale.