The shoes were placed on the location ( Pushkin Square, Tbilisi Georgia) , where LGBT activists were attacked May 17, 2013. Some 50 LGBT activists was violently attacked by 40 000 counter-protesters, led by Orthodox priests in Tbilisi, Georgia. Fearing repeated counter mobilization and failure of the police to provide security, the LGBT community was forced to cancel a rally on the coming 17th of May 2014.

       The shoes used in this work belong to some of the victims as well as to random people. They represent the defeat as well as they serve as a reminder  of existence -  of marginalized groups -  refugees, gays, women, the poor - minorities that are silenced and eradicated from public spaces, whose rights are neglected.

      The action took place at 7 a.m, on 18 th of May and ( we)  the organizers remained anonymous for 2 months to let the concept take over, not the names behind it.  

In just a couple of hours all Georgian media covered this story and by 11 a.m. it received over 8000 likes and over 600 comments which opened a space for  online discussion between two opposing sides that participated in last year's protest. 

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 (translated statement accompanying the installation)

 

Protest of the Invisible

 

 

This is an installation for the invisible. Those who are unseen, those who are not heard, whose existence is not recognized. This installation is for all of us who encounter daily, but don’t see and listen to each other. 

For those who cannot leave home and for those who have no home to shelter,

For those  who were forcefully displaced several times by: 

the military, 

the government,

the banks, 

their own families, 

For those whose work remains unappreciated, 

For those  on hunger strike demanding to be heard, 

For those for who we do not have enough public space,

For those  we cannot protect from insult, 

For the victims of violence and blackmail that have never been investigated, 

For those that have to pray in silence, 

For those who have to hide their names. 

Today, these empty shoes stand instead of the persons, who had the courage to stand against the invisibility of one of the groups, the LGBTQ community one year ago on May 17th -  who attempted to unmask how merciless we are, and discuss our common challenges, but who’s gathering was violently dissolved. Those who wish to stand here today to share their woes and joys, but neither the state, nor the society respect their voice and their existence.

This is a protest for the invisible and against invisibility. Despite the fact that we still do not manage to acknowledge and appreciate each other, we all exist, with our dreams, thoughts, with our daily lives. Turning a blind eye and covering up ears will not won’t erase our existence, will not heal our wounds, will not disable us to on  May 18.