Daniela Ortiz IN RESiDENCE at the School Josep Comas i Solà

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

In order to decide the subject for the project, Daniela Ortiz devotes the first sessions to discussion two cases for study and thought. Firstly, a critical analysis of certain images with colonial overtones that circulate in the collective imagination (adverts, magazines, product images) in order to raise the pupils' awareness. Secondly, a role-play activity based in an office for migrants, in order to highlight the difficulties that migrants face on arriving in a new country.

VISIT TO THE EXHIBITION NONUMENT

Since there is a work by Daniela Ortiz in the exhibition Nonument at La Capella dels Àngels (MACBA), a visit to this gallery is organised so that the group can discover the artist's work and learn about proposals linked to statuary and the call for the removal of certain images that have colonialist components. 

WATCHING THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

The project that Daniela Ortiz proposes to the pupils has a very specific starting point: watching a video found on YouTube in which a group of students film themselves as they intercept some people who are hiding in the bodywork of a coach in order to cross the border. The theme proposed for the whole course is that of analysing the attitudes found in this film footage. 

FIRST HYPOTHESES

In order to think about the motives that drive people who film themselves revealing the attitudes they do, several hypotheses are suggested. The fact that they cannot put themselves in others' place, along with the prevailing discourse found in the media, are the two ideas that the group discusses over the course of several sessions. A sketch is made of the backgrounds of the people in the film: those arrested, and the students.

TELEVISION PROGRAMME

A first attempt to articulate critical thought about issues concerning migrant control policies is made. The format chosen is the television debate. The debate is filmed and the main points of the discussion highlighted in order to produce a short film. The work in this format is not, finally, completed, because the group decides to publish a book as the final product of their work.

NEWSPAPER HEADLINES ABOUT IMMIGRATION

One of the aspects studied from a critical, decolonialist approach are the media, particularly the printed press. In order to generate a discourse and gather material for the book, the group reads the headlines of English and Spanish newspapers and cut out the words to create new content. Phrases by politicians with regard to migrant control issues are also intervened.

THINKERS: DECOLONIAL THOUGHT AND INTERSECTIONALITY

Colonialism is the central theme of the research. The aim is to think about and review all issues that, even though we did not live in colonial times, form thought structures that come, precisely, from that period. To do this, the group reads and discusses short texts by thinkers who have focused on this issue. A series of quotations from philosophers are gathered to be included in the edition to be sent to Myton school as teaching material.

PÚBLIC OBJECTIU AT ARTS SANTA MÒNICA

Públic objectiu [Target Group] is the title of the exhibition presented by Daniela Ortiz at Arts Santa Mònica, and which the pupils visit with the artist. This enables them to learn more about the artist's work devoted to the migrant control system, in this case about the Straits of Gibraltar and what is printed on the front pages of newspapers. The group also visits the nearby statue of Columbus to make a critical analysis of the representation of a member of an indigenous group and which Daniela links directly to xenophobic, discriminatory attitudes.

ABOUT THE FOREIGNER INTERNMENT CENTRE (CIE) AND FOREIGNER LAWS

One of the important sections in the publication being prepared is devoted detention centre for foreigners and to migration control policies. Over several sessions, the group study the procedures for the detention, isolation and expulsion of foreigners, and analyse in order to build up a critique.

GATHERING MATERIAL AND EDITING THE PUBLICATION

All the exercises, texts, questions, research, glossary and quotations are organised and published in a book intended to be used as teaching material. The aim is to send the book to Myton School so that students there can question the actions shown on the video. Moreover, the publication will also be distributed to their own school, and to bookstores and libraries to provide a tool for reflection.

VISIT TO LA CANÍBAL BOOKSHOP

The book is presented at La Caníbal bookshop. To prepare for the presentation, the group visits the shop to find out what type of books are on sale, to talk to the owners and to think a little about how to organise the public discussion that will take place.

SENDING THE BOOK TO MYTON SCHOOL

Fifteen copies of the book are sent to Myton School to be including in the library there. The books are sent from a post office, and the group also sell the book on the street and distribute copies to bookshops interested in its themes. 

PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK

The artist and the pupils presented the book at La Caníbal. The event was planned as a short conversation with the audience, and the discussion generated a rich exchange, with several people taking part. To introduce the presentation, a short film explaining the project was also shown. Finally, the book was placed on sale. There were two versions, one in Catalan and English, the other in Spanish and English.

A few days later, the pupils presented the book to their fellow third- and fourth-year pupils at the school. Several group members also accompanied Daniela Ortiz in a presentation at the Espai de l'Immigrant centre for migrants.

PRESENTATIONS AND SALE OF THE BOOK

After the first presentation, Daniela Ortiz suggested that the group should organise more presentations of the book and to sell copies of it. As mentioned, on one occasion, some of the pupils accompanied her to present the publication at the Espai de l'Immigrant centre for migrants. They all agreed to stay in touch, so as to accompany her at any other future presentations.