Violence at rest

Abstract

Violence at Rest is a multidisciplinary project centered on the exploits of the International Urbanauts, a society of artists and activists dedicated to the use of education and direct action for the creation of kinder, more equitable and more compassionate cities. This thesis examines the history, usage and motives behind exclusionary design and how artists have reframed public perception of homelessness. The use of exclusionary design within Boston, Los Angeles and other American cities is a moral, artistic and societal failure. As artists are essential to the creation of exclusionary design, it is the responsibility of artists to critique, expose and undermine exclusionary design Through humor and absurdity Violence and Rest exposes exclusionary design as an ineffective and cruel response to homelessness. This thesis analyzes the Centennial Circle Action, a direct action taken by the Urbanauts as an artistic critique of exclusionary design. The Urbanauts are an imagined public service dedicated to reintroduce compassion to exclusionary environments and the self appointed stewards of a more equitable city. For this goal, the Urbanauts work to strip exclusionary design of its effectiveness with education and through direct public action.