BORDER PERFORMATIVITY

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"borders are not only geographically constituted, but are socially constructed via the performance of various state actors in an elaborate dance with ordinary people who seek freedom of movement and identification. The choreography for this dance is shaped by state policies and laws, but it is increasingly shaped by larger global forces as well." (Nancy A. Wonders)

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The performative turn has brought about a shift in perspective, moving beyond a mere examination of objects such as artworks, social constructs, or political regulations. Instead, the focus is now on understanding the processes involved in their creation. This shift entails recognizing the enactment or interaction that these objects, texts, and constructs have with their surrounding environment, culture, and society.

 

Thus, in this project I view the boundary line not as a static mark on a map; rather, I perceive it as a dynamic zone filled with performances that extend beyond its physical location. The boundary line is seen and examined as a contact zone, a third space, where divided communities of human and non-human actors come together under the specific arrangements, engage in a conflict or dialogue, express their identity or negotiate it. It is a place where the past meets the present and nature intersects with human presence.