Authoritative
Authoritative is a packaged experience based on interviews with relatives originally from Guatemala during the military regimes of José Efraín Ríos Montt and Jorge Antonio Serrano Elías. Their shared experiences living under authoritative rule inspired me to encapsulate their story; comparing how many similar stories are shared globally in the past and present.
Authoritative incorporates info-graphic imagery making easy engagement with research complied by Freedom House, U.S. government-funded non-governmental organization investigates worldwide democracy, political freedom, and human rights. The concept of a fold out world map doubling as a informational pamphlet plays with the idea that these individual stories resonates worldwide and connects us as humans in a global society. My goal was to share my families experience that the reader can engage with while informing them about authoritarianism within the current sociopolitical world climate in 2014.
Details
José Efraín Ríos Montt was President of Guatemala from 1982 to 1983, during the Guatemala Civil War. Ríos Montt sized control by disposing the acting military general in a coup d’état; shutting down the legislative branch and constitution of Guatemala while kidnapping, torturing, and assassinating political dissidents. Relatives share stories like my aunt Lydia, attending University of San Carlos de Guatemala in the early 80’s, was among hundreds abducted and executed for supposedly being opposed to the government. Lydia Siliezar embodies unstable living conditions and injustices of people under authoritarian regimes.
Dimensions
Authoritative Index: 23″ x 20″
Pamphlet: 5.5″ x 9″
Date
Student project attending the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. April 2015 – UHM Art 469.
