How do we perceive ourselves and others in today’s multicultural world?
Nowadays, globalization and technology mean that we cross borders much more often and easier than a few generations ago. The challenges that affect us, such as economic inequalities, the search for a better future, the desire to learn about the world or fleeing climate change or conflicts, turn many of us into migrants. As a consequence, major social changes are taking place. Multiculturalism allows us to observe people different from us, learn about new values and systems of thinking that change our current perception of ourselves and the world. We question and redefine traditional ideals and values. Drawing from various cultural capitals enriches us, but also prompts us to pose difficult questions, it can be a source of conflicts and divisions. As Ryszard Kapuściński said, “participating in a multicultural world requires a strong and mature sense of identity”. What does this mean for us?
The slogan Gdynia Design Days 2022 – Empasea – refers to the Baltic Sea and its impact on the life of everyone, regardless of where they live. The sea is not only a space for migration, but also a place of constant change. Just as the sea can be changeable, so man fluctuates between his different selves. During the “Mult-identity” exhibition, we will learn about designs that are designers’ responses to the complex tangle of sociological phenomena. We will also touch on difficult topics related to prejudices, divisions between people or integration problems. We will look at the new challenges of our time related to constant change, multiple identities and the emergence of new types of societies based more on a community of values than on a shared past.
Studio Boloz | All rights reserved
