VIRAL INTERVENTIONS: FINAL DOCUMENTATION
Materials: Website, Digital Photography, Social Media, Paper, Spray Paint, and Cardboard
In 2022, the landmark Supreme Court case, Roe v. Wade, was overturned. Roe v. Wade provided a constitutional right to seek an abortion and its operating framework is that first trimester is when a pregnant person and their doctor is able to make that decision. However, the following trimesters are left up to state legislature. Immediately after the overturning, Florida's ban is no abortions passed 6 weeks. As a result, Florida proposed a new amendment on codifying abortion law within our state's constitution. If passed, it will provide access to abortions up to the 24 week mark through adding the following sentence to our constitution, "No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider." Election day, 57% of Floridians voted in favor for protected access. This proposal failed by less than 3% and left many Floridians feeling hopeless, angry, and frustrated.
Our group wanted to respond to this feeling of not having control over our reproductive rights. Herbal freedom is our response. Each herb is rooted in this long history of people self-inducing an abortion, a personal choice. A private choice. A vulnerable yet strong choice.
FAKE MIAMI DADE GOVERNMENT WEBSITE AND MUGSHOTS
We wanted to fabricate a story where we have been caught for this crime of vandalizing the city. By blurring fiction with reality, we strengthen this illusion of being arrested for this self expression.
Website: https://viralinterventions.wordpress.com/
This interrogation provided content to our actions. Each question provided a direct response towards our current system. A system that demands obedience and in return strips up from our personal rights and freedoms. Our expression towards that system is treated as a harmful act when in fact the harmful act comes with actions taken when reproductive rights are restricted.
All of our herbs have been historically used for different medicinal purposes like menstrual cycle regulation and self-induced abortion. However, there are other benefits that come with consumption of herbs. I chose Safflower, it was a more cultural choice that resonated with me since it is called Azafran in my native language. Azafran is used in a lot of cultures in Latin America for cooking purposes. As well as my upbringing with my great grandmother, she used to use different herbs since she was the community's medicine woman.
During this process, I created a stencil of it and chose a name that felt more connect to my identity. Miami also serves as a cultural hub of Spanish speakers that have immigrated from Latin America. Many Latin America countries are also experiencing political issues with reproductive rights.
Our Instagram page serves as a form of engagement to a larger audience in hopes of having conversation with people across the platform. This account is not only a modern day art gallery, but it serves as a collective voice and an extension of our resistance.
