Apathy Bores Me (Protest Workshop)

 

Participants write slogans in a diary, which are transfered onto placards by the artist. The placards are then stuck up until the time of the performance.

 

Those who do not wish to protest can join the riot police, who are provided with cardboard shields and papier mache batons.

 Once the placards have been randomly distributed, the protest begins by chanting 'Apathy Bores Me', as it gets underway, people start nominating the slogans from the placards they're carrying. The redistribution of the placarsds erases self conscious shyness of people's own slogans.

The 'Riot Police' mobilise themselves, beating their battons in time , they form a 'fence' to hold the protestors in. Papier mache batons keep the protestors in line.

The protestors find a weakness and break through to continue the march

 

The remnants of the workshop. Participants are encouraged to take their placards or riot gear home.

Leftover placards

Absurd and abstract slogans make great chants!

An apt way to finish.
Whilst this performance was imaginative and playful, it was interesting how the crowd split into two groups and  enacted their rolls with such conviction. One protestor explained it to me as a hilarious, adrenalin charged bonding session. I think this was due to the 'Riot Police' being largely made up of people involved in Environmental Protest movements, and their replication of real life Police offensive/ defensive tactics.