TED2018
Paul Rucker: The symbols of systemic racism -- and how to take away their power
Paul Rucker: Els símbols del racisme sistemàtic i com eliminar-ne el poder
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L'artista multidisciplinari i membre destacat de TED, Paul Rucker, descús el llegat del racisme sistemàtic als Estats Units. Col·leccionista d'objectes relacionats amb la història del racisme, des de ferros de marcar fins grillons i postals que mostren linxaments, Rucker no aconseguia trobar una túnica del Ku Klux Klan en bon estat per a la seva col·lecció, així que va decidir fabricar-ne una. El resultat són peces creades amb gèneres poc tradicionals, com el teixit Kente, teles de camuflatge i seda, que desafien la normalització del racisme sistemàtic als Estats Units. "Si nosaltres com a societat analitzem aquests objectes i acceptem que són part de la nostra història, llavors aconseguirem evitar que el seu poder ens afecti", diu Rucker. (Aquesta xerrada conté imatges que poden ferir la sensibilitat de l'espectador)
Paul Rucker - Visual artist, cellist
Paul Rucker creates art that explores issues related to mass incarceration, racially-motivated violence, police brutality and the continuing impact of slavery in the US. Full bio
Paul Rucker creates art that explores issues related to mass incarceration, racially-motivated violence, police brutality and the continuing impact of slavery in the US. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
[This talk contains graphic images
Viewer discretion is advised]
Viewer discretion is advised]
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[Aquesta xerrada conté imatges que poden
ferir la sensibilitat de l'espectador]
ferir la sensibilitat de l'espectador]
00:17
I collect objects.
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Col·lecciono objectes.
00:19
I collect branding irons that were used
to mark slaves as property.
to mark slaves as property.
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Col·lecciono ferros de marcar que s'usaven
per identificar esclaus com a propietat.
per identificar esclaus com a propietat.
00:25
I collect shackles for adults
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Col·lecciono grillons per a adults
00:29
and restraints for adults
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i estris per subjugar adults
00:31
as well as children.
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i també nens.
00:37
I collect lynching postcards.
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Col·lecciono postals de linxaments.
00:40
Yes, they depict lynchings.
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Sí, mostren linxaments.
00:42
They also depict the massive crowds
that attended these lynchings,
that attended these lynchings,
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També mostren la gran quantitat
d'espectadors que hi assistien.
d'espectadors que hi assistien.
00:46
and they are postcards
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I són postals
00:48
that were also used for correspondence.
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que també s'utilitzaven
com a correspondència.
com a correspondència.
00:52
I collect proslavery books
that portray black people as criminals
that portray black people as criminals
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Col·lecciono llibres
que defensen l'esclavitud
que defensen l'esclavitud
i descriuen els negres com a criminals
o com a animals sense ànima.
00:58
or as animals without souls.
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01:02
I brought you something today.
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Els he portat algunes coses.
Això és un ferro de marcar
trobat en un vaixell.
trobat en un vaixell.
01:07
This is a ship's branding iron.
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S'utilitzava per marcar els esclaus.
01:10
It was used to mark slaves.
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Bé, no eren esclaus encara
quan els marcaven.
quan els marcaven.
01:15
Well, they actually were not slaves
when they were marked.
when they were marked.
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Eren a l'Àfrica.
01:17
They were in Africa.
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Però se'ls marcava amb una "S"
01:19
But they were marked with an "S"
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per indicar que serien esclaus
01:21
to designate that they
were going to be slaves
were going to be slaves
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01:23
when they were brought to the US
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una vegada arribessin als EUA
01:25
and when they were brought to Europe.
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o a Europa.
Un altre dels objectes
que em va capturar la imaginació de jove
que em va capturar la imaginació de jove
01:32
Another object or image that captured
my imagination when I was younger
my imagination when I was younger
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va ser la túnica del Klan.
01:35
was a Klan robe.
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01:37
Growing up in South Carolina, I would see
Ku Klux Klan rallies occasionally,
Ku Klux Klan rallies occasionally,
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Vivint a Carolina del Sud,
estava acostumat a veure
estava acostumat a veure
actes del Ku Klux Klan
de tant en tant.
de tant en tant.
01:41
actually more than occasionally,
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De fet, més que de tant en tant.
01:43
and the memories of those events
never really left my mind.
never really left my mind.
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I el record d'aquests actes
mai se'm va esborrar de la memòria.
mai se'm va esborrar de la memòria.
01:46
And I didn't really do anything
with that imagery until 25 years later.
with that imagery until 25 years later.
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I no vaig fer res amb aquestes imatges
fins al cap de 25 anys.
fins al cap de 25 anys.
Fa uns anys, vaig començar
a investigar sobre el Klan,
a investigar sobre el Klan,
01:51
A few years ago,
I started researching the Klan,
I started researching the Klan,
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01:53
the three distinct waves of the Klan,
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sobres les seves tres encarnacions
01:56
the second one in particular.
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i, en particular, la segona.
01:58
The second wave of the Klan
had more than five million active members,
had more than five million active members,
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La segona encarnació del Klan va tenir
més de 5 milions de membres actius,
més de 5 milions de membres actius,
02:03
which was five percent
of the population at the time,
of the population at the time,
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que representava
el 5% de la població en aquell temps,
el 5% de la població en aquell temps,
o la població total de Nova York
d'aquell moment.
d'aquell moment.
02:06
which was also the population
of New York City at the time.
of New York City at the time.
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La fàbrica de túniques del Klan situada
a Buckhead, Georgia, tenia tanta demanda
a Buckhead, Georgia, tenia tanta demanda
02:10
The Klan robe factory in the Buckhead
neighborhood of Georgia was so busy
neighborhood of Georgia was so busy
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02:14
it became a 24-hour factory
to keep up with orders.
to keep up with orders.
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que funcionava 24 hores
per poder atendre tots els encàrrecs.
per poder atendre tots els encàrrecs.
02:18
They kept 20,000 robes on hand at all time
to keep up with the demand.
to keep up with the demand.
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Sempre tenien 20 000 túniques preparades
per poder satisfer la demanda.
per poder satisfer la demanda.
02:24
As a collector of artifacts
and as an artist,
and as an artist,
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Com a col·leccionista d'objectes
i com a artista
i com a artista
02:26
I really wanted a Klan robe
to be part of my collection,
to be part of my collection,
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realment volia una túnica del Klan
per a la col·lecció
per a la col·lecció
02:29
because artifacts
and objects tell stories,
and objects tell stories,
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perquè els objectes expliquen històries,
però no en podia aconseguir cap
que realment fos de bona qualitat.
que realment fos de bona qualitat.
02:33
but I really couldn't find one
that was really good quality.
that was really good quality.
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02:36
What is a black man to do in America
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Què pot fer un negre als EUA
02:38
when he can't find the quality
Klan robe that he's looking for?
Klan robe that he's looking for?
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quan no aconsegueix
una túnica de qualitat del Klan?
una túnica de qualitat del Klan?
02:41
(Laughter)
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(Rialles)
02:45
So I had no other choice.
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No tenia cap altra opció.
02:47
I decided I was going to make
the best quality Klan robes in America.
the best quality Klan robes in America.
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Vaig decidir que fabricaria
les millors túniques del Klan als EUA.
les millors túniques del Klan als EUA.
02:53
These are not your traditional Klan robes
you would see at any KKK rally.
you would see at any KKK rally.
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No són les tradicionals túniques
que es veuen als actes del KKK.
que es veuen als actes del KKK.
02:57
I used kente cloth,
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Vaig utilitzar teixit Kente,
tela de camuflatge,
02:59
I used camouflage,
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03:01
spandex, burlap, silks,
satins and different patterns.
satins and different patterns.
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elastà, xarpellera, seda, setí
i estampats diferents.
i estampats diferents.
Les fabrico per a gent
de diverses edats,
de diverses edats,
03:07
I make them for different age groups;
I make them for young kids
I make them for young kids
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per a joves i per a nens petits.
03:10
as well as toddlers.
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03:12
I even made one for an infant.
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Fins i tot en vaig fer una
per a un nadó.
per a un nadó.
03:19
After making so many robes,
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Després de fabricar tantes túniques,
em vaig adonar
em vaig adonar
03:21
I realized that the policies
the Klan had in place
the Klan had in place
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que les polítiques que el Klan promovia
o que volien implementar fa cent anys
03:25
or wanted to have in place
a hundred years ago
a hundred years ago
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03:28
are in place today.
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existeixen avui en dia.
03:30
We have segregated schools,
neighborhoods, workplaces,
neighborhoods, workplaces,
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Tenim escoles, barris i llocs de feina
segregats racialment,
segregats racialment,
03:35
and it's not the people wearing hoods
that are keeping these policies in place.
that are keeping these policies in place.
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però els que porten caputxes no són
els que conserven aquestes polítiques.
els que conserven aquestes polítiques.
03:41
My work is about
the long-term impact of slavery.
the long-term impact of slavery.
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La meva feina tracta l'impacte
de l'esclavitud a llarg termini.
de l'esclavitud a llarg termini.
03:44
We're not just dealing
with the residue of systemic racism.
with the residue of systemic racism.
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No només ens ocupem
de les restes d'un racisme sistemàtic.
de les restes d'un racisme sistemàtic.
03:47
It's the basis
of every single thing we do.
of every single thing we do.
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És la base de tot el que fem.
Una altra vegada, hem segregat
intencionadament barris,
intencionadament barris,
03:50
Again we have intentionally
segregated neighborhoods,
segregated neighborhoods,
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03:53
workplaces and schools.
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llocs de feina i escoles.
03:56
We have voter suppression.
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Suprimim els votants.
03:57
We have disproportionate representation
of minorities incarcerated.
of minorities incarcerated.
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Hi ha una representació desproporcionada
de minories a les presons.
de minories a les presons.
04:03
We have environmental racism.
We have police brutality.
We have police brutality.
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Tenim racisme ambiental.
Brutalitat policial.
Brutalitat policial.
04:08
I brought you a few things today.
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Els he portat unes quantes coses.
L'aspecte amagat del racisme
04:13
The stealth aspect of racism
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és part del seu poder.
04:16
is part of its power.
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04:19
When you're discriminated against,
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Quan se't discrimina,
no sempre pots demostrar-ho.
04:21
you can't always prove
you're being discriminated against.
you're being discriminated against.
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04:25
Racism has the power to hide,
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El racisme té el poder d'amagar-se,
04:28
and when it hides, it's kept safe
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i quan s'amaga, es troba fora de perill
04:31
because it blends in.
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perquè es camufla.
04:34
I created this robe to illustrate that.
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Vaig fer aquesta túnica per il·lustrar-ho.
04:38
The basis of capitalism
in America is slavery.
in America is slavery.
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La base del capitalisme
als EUA és l'esclavitud.
als EUA és l'esclavitud.
04:46
Slaves were the capital in capitalism.
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Els esclaus van ser
el capital del capitalisme.
el capital del capitalisme.
04:50
The first Grand Wizard in 1868,
Nathan Bedford Forrest,
Nathan Bedford Forrest,
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El primer líder oficial del KKK el 1868,
Nathan Bedford Forrest,
Nathan Bedford Forrest,
04:54
was a Confederate soldier
and a millionaire slave trader.
and a millionaire slave trader.
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era un soldat de la Confederació
i un traficant d'esclaus milionari.
i un traficant d'esclaus milionari.
05:07
The wealth that was created
from chattel slavery --
from chattel slavery --
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La riquesa com a producte de l'esclavitud,
05:10
that's slaves as property --
would boggle the mind.
would boggle the mind.
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de tractar l'esclau com a propietat,
era increïble.
era increïble.
Tan sols la venda de cotó el 1860
equivalia a 200 milions de dòlars.
equivalia a 200 milions de dòlars.
05:14
Cotton sales alone in 1860
equalled 200 million dollars.
equalled 200 million dollars.
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05:18
That would equal
five billion dollars today.
five billion dollars today.
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Avui en dia, això equivaldria
a 5 000 milions de dòlars.
a 5 000 milions de dòlars.
05:23
A lot of that wealth can be seen today
through generational wealth.
through generational wealth.
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Molta d'aquesta riquesa es veu
actualment en la riquesa heretada.
actualment en la riquesa heretada.
Ah, i oblidava també els altres productes.
05:28
Oh, I forgot the other crops as well.
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05:30
You have indigo, rice and tobacco.
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Tenim indi, arròs i tabac.
05:38
In 2015, I made one robe a week
for the entire year.
for the entire year.
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El 2015 vaig fabricar una túnica
a la setmana durant tot l'any.
a la setmana durant tot l'any.
05:43
After making 75 robes, I had an epiphany.
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Després de fer 75 túniques,
vaig tenir una revelació.
vaig tenir una revelació.
05:45
I have a realization
that white supremacy is there,
that white supremacy is there,
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Em vaig adonar
que la supremacia blanca existeix,
que la supremacia blanca existeix,
05:51
but the biggest force
of white supremacy is not the KKK,
of white supremacy is not the KKK,
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però el KKK no n'és el màxim promotor,
05:55
it's the normalization of systemic racism.
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sinó la normalització
del racisme sistemàtic.
del racisme sistemàtic.
També em vaig adonar
d'una altra cosa.
d'una altra cosa.
05:59
There was something else I realized.
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Les túniques
ja no tenien el poder d'afectar-me.
ja no tenien el poder d'afectar-me.
06:01
The robes had no more power
over me at all.
over me at all.
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Però si nosaltres, com a societat,
06:05
But if we as a people collectively
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06:09
look at these objects --
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analitzem aquests objectes,
06:11
branding irons, shackles, robes --
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ferros de marcar, grillons, túniques,
06:13
and realize that they
are part of our history,
are part of our history,
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i acceptem que són part
de la nostra història,
de la nostra història,
llavors aconseguirem evitar
que el seu poder ens afecti.
que el seu poder ens afecti.
06:16
we can find a way to where they have
no more power over us.
no more power over us.
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06:21
If we look at systemic racism
and acknowledge
and acknowledge
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Si analitzem el racisme sistemàtic
i reconeixem que està ben arrelat
a la nostra identitat com a país,
a la nostra identitat com a país,
06:26
that it's sown into the very fabric
of who we are as a country,
of who we are as a country,
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llavors podrem fer alguna cosa
amb la segregació racial intencionada
amb la segregació racial intencionada
06:31
then we can actually do something
about the intentional segregation
about the intentional segregation
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06:35
in our schools,
neighborhoods and workplaces.
neighborhoods and workplaces.
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a les nostres escoles,
barris i llocs de feina.
barris i llocs de feina.
06:40
But then and only then
can we actually address
can we actually address
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Només llavors podrem tractar
06:43
and confront this legacy of slavery
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i afrontar realment
el llegat de l'esclavitud
el llegat de l'esclavitud
06:45
and dismantle this ugly legacy of slavery.
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i desmantellar aquest horrible llegat.
06:49
Thank you very much.
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Moltes gràcies.
06:50
(Applause)
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(Aplaudiments)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Paul Rucker - Visual artist, cellistPaul Rucker creates art that explores issues related to mass incarceration, racially-motivated violence, police brutality and the continuing impact of slavery in the US.
Why you should listen
Paul Rucker is a visual artist, composer, and musician who often combines media, integrating live performance, sound, original compositions and visual art. His work is the product of a rich interactive process, through which he investigates community impacts, human rights issues, historical research and basic human emotions surrounding particular subject matter. Much of his current work focuses on the Prison Industrial Complex and the many issues accompanying incarceration in its relationship to slavery. He has presented performances and visual art exhibitions across the country and has collaborated with educational institutions to address the issue of mass incarceration. Presentations have taken place in schools, active prisons and also inactive prisons such as Alcatraz.
His largest installation to date, REWIND, garnered praise from Baltimore Magazine awarding Rucker "Best Artist 2015." Additionally, REWIND received "Best Solo Show 2015" and "#1 Art Show of 2015" from Baltimore City Paper, reviews by The Huffington Post, Artnet News, Washington Post, The Root and The Real News Network. Rucker has received numerous grants, awards and residencies for visual art and music. He is a 2012 Creative Capital Grantee in visual art as well as a 2014 and 2018 MAP (Multi-Arts Production) Fund Grantee for performance. In 2015 he received a prestigious Joan Mitchell Painters & Sculptors Grant as well as the Mary Sawyer Baker Award. In 2016 Paul received the Rauschenberg Artist as Activist fellowship and the Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship, for which he is the first artist in residence at the new National Museum of African American Culture.
Residencies include MacDowell Colony, Blue Mountain Center, Ucross Foundation, Art OMI, Banff Centre, Pilchuck Glass School, Rauschenberg Residency, Joan Mitchell Residency, Hemera Artist Retreat, Air Serembe, Creative Alliance and the Rockefeller Foundation Study Center in Bellagio, Italy. In 2013-2015, he was the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation Artist in Residence and Research Fellow at the Maryland Institute College of Art. He was most recently awarded a 2017 John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, a 2018 TED Fellowship and the 2018 Arts Innovator Award from the Dale and Leslie Chihuly Foundation and Artist Trust. Rucker is an iCubed Visiting Arts Fellow embedded at the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Rucker's latest work, Storm in the Time of Shelter, an installation of 52 custom Ku Klux Klan robes and related artifacts, is featured in the exhibition "Declaration," on view at the new Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia through September 9, 2018.
Paul Rucker | Speaker | TED.com