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A few years ago, a public art project by the Belgian Royal Academy Dendermonde Against Racism (RADAR) challenged people to reconsider the ways in which they viewed poverty and homelessness by placing mannequins in public places–tucked under doorways and at the end of alleys, in nooks and crannies near public transportation stations, and slouched beside sidewalks. Dressed in filthy clothing and covered in a coat or blanket, the mannequins didn’t just look homeless–they appeared asleep or unconscious (or possibly dead, to more morbidly-minded viewers).
The prostrate mannequins posed a dilemma for passersby: how does one respond to someone who obviously needs help but who is socially alien–completely “other”? As RADAR explained:
As innocent as innocent can be, these sleeping sculptures succeed in becoming a threat to the citizen who wants to perform his social duty by informing the authorities. The first actions promptly resulted in two obliging police-interventions that were covered by the media.
38 students of the KASK (Royal Academy of Arts) of the city of Dendermonde in Belgium became involved and wanted to participate in this project.
. Historian Shae Davidson's research interests include public policy and the relationship between culture and civil society. His publications range from articles on industrial history to absurdist poetry.
