Formerly the global #MakeUsVisible campaign
A new network of AR monuments for a more inclusive world
Leader
Anne Wichmann
Location
Statues in all five boroughs of NYC New York City, NY 10019
ARORA (formerly the #MakeUsVisible Campaign)
OUR STORY
In December 2021, Anne Wichmann had a vision to make Gender Equity Monuments Visible on the Streets of New York and founded ARORA (#MUV) along with #MUV co-founders Clara Francesca, Katie Peyton Hofstadter and Nam Le.
Wichmann approached her XR Ensemble co-founder Francesca with the idea, discussing how artists might use technology to create a framework to empower representation on a mass scale. According to the mayor’s office, New York strives to be “the best place in the world for women to succeed”, yet its public art tells a different story. 91% of our monuments honor men. To create this new public art campaign, they consulted with artist Erin Ko, who recommended two collaborators: Writer and artist-curator Katie Peyton Hofstadter and Nam Le, founder of Pollinate Art. All were enthusiastic to join the conversation, and the early team was formed.
The co-founders began the campaign by asking: Where are the women? Where are the nonbinary people? Where are monuments honoring girls of color, nonmale composers and filmmakers, pilots and nail technicians and teachers, who are not men? There are more statues of horses than notable women! How can anyone expect a more equitable world, when towering above them every day — on pedestals, on saddles, on 76-foot columns 76-foot columns— are only white men?
Once we have received the funds we will pay a total of 40 artists and contributors for their 3 months of tireless work featured since 2022 to begin this conversation and implement it a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $1000 each. If there are any remaining funds the remaining capital will be put towards a new project between XRE and Pollinate Art.
New York City strives to be “the best place in the world for women to succeed.” Yet the 150 statues which occupy our public parks tell another story: 91% of them depict men. Why is gender diversity shockingly absent from public sculpture? By honoring the millions of people of marginalized genders living in our community, we can imagine and create new ways to be seen in New York City, transforming our public spaces into a reflection and representation of our diverse values.
ARORA Success stories include:
