Lauren Alexander: Watching Democracy
Title:
- Watching Democracy
Artist(s) and People Involved:
Exhibiting Artist(s):
Symposium:
Venue(s):
Medium:
- Single channel DVD: audio/video (looped)
Artist Statement:
Watching Democracy is a critical analysis of a newly built monument in Kliptown, Soweto, South Africa. The monument is called Kliptown Freedom Mall and was built as part the urban regeneration of the Kliptown area after democracy was reached in the country in 1994. However, the monument complex consists of a five star hotel, conference centre and upscale shopping area, which have been built in one of the poorest parts of Soweto. Watching Democracy seeks to examine the link between what used to exist in the area, a former buzzing market place, and what it has been replaced with today.
