GV/2021/157
Valencian identity is a complex issue, full of nuances, contradictions and diverse conflicts. An identity that seems to have problems in building itself and in articulating a sufficiently solid and unified narrative, as previous studies demonstrate (Flor, 2011; Marí and Cerezo, 1983; Mira, 2007; Piqueras Infante, 1996). There are a number of factors that undoubtedly build and modify these identity processes, among them is the image. The construction of a coherent, solid and more or less unified image of what is assumed to be a collective Valencian identity intersects with other emerging and equally conflicting imaginaries. Investigate all these conflicting issues as well as what is the interpretation that is done from the arts, the contributions of the arts and design in different fields to build a certain identity look towards Valencian men and women, is the main objective of this project. All this will be done through the instruments specified and within the framework of analysis of visual pedagogies and what images contribute to build a complex and diverse collective imaginary but essentially influential in social and cultural development.
In a framework in which Valencia will become the world capital of design in 2022, this project represents an element that deepens the knowledge of Valencian design in an essential aspect and that design assumes in a profound way, such as the creation and definition of identity images, a task especially connected to the practices and work of graphic and visual design in a special way.
Likewise, it includes the study of the manifestations of the most popular art, such as ceramics, very present in the streets of many towns and cities of the country and other festive manifestations that have art as the main axis, such as now the fallas, a declared festival. Intangible Heritage of Humanity or the Bonfires of Sant Joan d'Alacant, among many other manifestations of Valencian popular culture that generate in a very important way the creation of identity images of Valencian men and women with an enormous social and cultural impact. Any aspect of the popular culture of a human population is always linked to identity constructions. The festive and cultural expressions of popular roots are inextricably linked to the creation of group feelings of collective identity, which can occur in regional or national feelings, and help in a privileged way to create collective awareness of belonging to the same culture and to a nation or distinct nationality.
All these are aspects that must be questioned and put into context, in addition to incorporating new research narratives beyond the traditional ones that relocate these concepts, from a feminist perspective, especially necessary in the case of the construction of collective identity images, usually forged from a strictly masculine position and gaze. In this sense, the proposals and actions derived from this project and with artistic means, become an adequate space to investigate from new positions, the stories of the most traditional images and incorporate new imaginaries in the analysis of these identities.
Without all these visual and aesthetic representations, without an aesthetic in fact, it is very difficult to build an identity. Identity and aesthetics go hand in hand and very probably, without these forms of visualization and construction of collective aesthetic experiences, it would be almost impossible to manage and develop the idea of a shared vision of understanding the world and the environment and how that world and environment they define this identity through the gaze that we project and build on them.
However, it is necessary to analyze and assess on what backgrounds these identities are written and constructed, what specific image they are shaping, what identities are excluded in the dominant visual discourses and narratives, what role do women play in the construction of these images and visual aesthetics identity, how they integrate and influence society and how society can change or start a process of reflection and analysis that allows it to rethink its own identity, based on the creation and design of new experiences artistic and aesthetic.
Based on these previous conceptualizations, a project is established with the following objectives:
- Rethinking the Valencian identity from a multi-identity, transversal and feminist perspective, based on the analysis of the aesthetics and the images that generate a visual culture of identity.
- Analyze contemporary Valencian artistic manifestations, popular and visual culture and Valencian design in reference to the treatment of the subject of Valencian identity in these.
- Analyze the social impact on the population of artistic and aesthetic identity manifestations and assess to what extent they respond to the collective identity image of Valencian men and women.
- Develop a visual and aesthetic catalog of artistic symbols that build a vision of Valencian identity as a permanent space for consultation and subsequent analysis.
- Analyze to what extent the Valencian identity is constructed from a gender perspective and *how it incorporates multiple identity aspects such as sexual diversity or other ethnic diversities within the construction of the Valencian identity image and to what extent these issues are present in the images and aesthetics of it.
- Develop a series of artistic actions and interventions as spaces for reflection that work by proposing new perspectives on the Valencian identity and analyzing and measuring the impact of these actions among different audiences. (Rethink Valencian identities through artistic actions)
- Analyze and develop pedagogical artistic actions that encourage rethinking and thinking freely about the construction of the Valencian identity from multiple aspects and perspectives.
- Huerta Ramon, Ricard Vicent
- PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
Department of Innovation, Universities, Science and Digital Society
