Foundation in Peacebuilding – workshop and exhibition

Details

Project
Year2024
Commissioned byThe Hague University of Applied Sciences
Role Curator
Output Exhibition
ConceptRoya Varjavandi, Johan Nieuwenhuize, Welmer Keesmaat

This exhibition Foundation in Peacebuilding at The Hague University of Applied Sciences was made by students of the Peacebuilding, Justice and Human Rights Minor.
The minor aims to analyse with the aim of transforming currently ongoing global challenges such as wars, conflicts, refugees, climate change and inequality through a peacebuilding, justice and human rights perspective.

Part of the minor is a series of creative workshops lead by Johan Nieuwenhuize and Roya Varjavandi (THUAS) in which students learn how to use tools from artistic practices to make a poster or protest sign. The workshops focus on the connection between art and activism and the use of graphic design and text in poster making. The module about graphic design was developed in collaboration with Welmer Keesmaat.

Students got the task to find their cause, talk to their community, develop a concept and eventually make a poster or protest sign. By making posters and protest signs students learn the importance of advocacy for a more peaceful and just world.
The exhibition shows the result of the workshops.

“Today, we welcome you to a world of impactful visuals and powerful messages at our advocacy poster exhibition!

As you walk into the exhibition and are greeted by a vibrant display of posters, you will be immersed in the world of advocacy. From promoting equality to sustainability and addressing other pressing global concerns, these posters pack a punch with bold typography, eye-catching designs, vibrant colours and compelling imagery.

These posters are not just pieces of art, but also catalysts for change, designed to raise awareness and inspire action on various social, environmental, and human rights issues. Each poster tells a unique story, inviting you to be engaged and become an agent of change, through the power of visual advocacy.

So, get ready to be amazed by the creativity and impact of these advocacy posters at this exhibition. As you join us today, we believe these posters will ignite your passion for positive change!”

– the students of the PJHR Minor

“Extremely long waiting times, strict guidelines and unknowledgeable doctors. Trans people
in the Netherlands face severe obstacles when seeking gender-affirming care.

The poster unveils the grim reality that many trans people face: it can take up to three years of waiting before a trans person can even get an intake appointment. The systemic flaws of
Dutch trans healthcare not only obstruct timely care, but also inflict severe psychological
distress on those who are most desperate for it.

As such, it is crucial to advocate for reforms that prioritise affirming the dignity of those seeking trans healthcare in the Netherlands.”

–Quinn Naglé

“Sexualisation, degradation and objectification is something me and my friends and
people of all genders around the world experience on a daily basis. Somehow it appears to have been normalised and accepted socially.

This CANNOT be accepted. Not anymore. Not now and not in the future. Sexualisation, degradation and objectification can create enormous fear and trauma which touches people of all genders and ages.

On the poster various insults have been written. Choose an insult you are – unfortunately – familiar with. Cross it out. On the wooden label write down what you wished they would have said instead. Pin it on the crossed out insult.”

–Isabel Nino

“Advertisements and labels have a significant influence on consumer choices. If consumers are led to believe that a product is more sustainable, they might be more likely to purchase it
even if it is more expensive.

In an era of environmental uncertainty, the deeds of every individual matter in fostering a better world. But this goal becomes impossible when businesses participate in greenwashing, hiding the truth from public view.

How can we navigate between truth and deception? Greenwashing not only sabotages genuine sustainability efforts but also undermines trust in authentically eco-conscious brands. Accountability and transparency throughout the supply chain are essential for true
sustainability.

The challenge is to hold companies accountable for exploiting consumer goodwill to boost profits.”

 

 –Sarah Fernandez Carmona

“This poster addresses the normalisation of nipples, highlighting that they are a natural part
of the human body and should be normalised rather than sexualized.

However, in society today, women’s nipples are often overly sexualized. When a woman goes topless at the beach, she may experience stares, comments, or even unwanted photography – whereas men generally face no such consequences. Similarly, when women opt not to wear a bra and their nipples are visible, they face more scrutiny compared to men.

It is important to recognize that nipples, regardless of gender, are identical and should be treated equally.”

 –Rachel Hanssen