The #totallynotsexist Project was an interactive physical and digital installation that explores individual agency in everyday sexism. The project seeks to create an immersive and engaging interactive experience that persuades individuals of their agency to endorse or disrupt a sexist society. By first engaging and immersing individuals in the installation and then informing them of the presence of everyday sexism in their own lives. #totallynotsexist allows for self-reflection and an opportunity for participants to exercise their personal agency in both physical and digital ways.
In 2021 this project won the QUT Award of 'Outstanding Creative Experimentation and Innovation'
The project was contained within an enclosed room, with entry and exit through an existing central doorway. The walls and floor of the space are painted black except for a white projection screen on the wall facing the doorway.
As the participant enters the space, they are met by a 3D artifact titled “It’s a Doll Eat Doll World”. This assemblage of naked, gagged and crying Barbie Dolls is situated on a lit plinth allowing the participant to walk around, and view the piece from various angles.
Beside the 3D work, four fabric-wrapped chairs invite the participants to sit and linger in the space.
The chairs face an image video projected. These images play on loop and portray everyday objects and scenarios that disclose everyday sexism. Ken and Barbie are used as actors in the images. A soundscape provides audio examples of everyday sexism through recordings of actor’s voices and collected gendered sounds such as footsteps. The soundscape and image video are synchronised. At the end of each loop the participants are asked “Which chair did you chose?” The soundscape pauses on this image, allowing a moment for reflection.
Tables in front of the chairs and to the sides of the space are laid with postcards and stickers branded with the project’s logo and icons. Posters invite the participants to take and wear the stickers. Participants are also encouraged to write down their own experiences of everyday sexism. Participants then place the postcards on fishing line along the walls of the space using paper clips.
As the participants turn back to exit the space, they encounter the Insta Walls covered in project iconography and branding, to encourage them to upload photos of themselves within the project and/or the project itself.
The Insta Wall also provide links to the Instagram account of the project @totallynotsexist and encourages the use of the #totallynotsexist hashtag – so moving the project beyond a physical artifact to the digital realm. The Instagram account is part of the project. It provides information on the topic of everyday sexism and the project installation, including behind the scenes information and posts about the final installation.
The Insta Wall also provide links to the Instagram account of the project @totallynotsexist and encourages the use of the #totallynotsexist hashtag – so moving the project beyond a physical artifact to the digital realm. The Instagram account is part of the project. It provides information on the topic of everyday sexism and the project installation, including behind the scenes information and posts about the final installation.
