While the whole world is witnessing President Donald Trump’s continuous attack on people of colour and his open strategy of dividing people, two artists from California took things on their own shoulder to stand against it. Ronald Rael, Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of California, Berkley and Virginia San Fratello, Assistant Professor at San Jose State University in the School of Art and Design, installed three pink seesaws across the border of the US and Mexico, using the wall as a fulcrum.
In a heartwarming video circulated on the internet, children as well as adults from both sides, are seen enjoying the seesaws. The teeter-totter structure is a symbolism to demonstrate the interdependence of the two countries on each other.
Professor Ronald Rael shared a series of photos and videos over his social media handle showing his gratitude to his project partners and the people who gathered to encourage and support the structure, saying, “One of the most incredible experiences of my and @vasfsf’s career bringing to life the conceptual drawings of the Teetertotter Wall from 2009 in an event filled with joy, excitement, and togetherness at the border wall. The wall became a literal fulcrum for U.S. – Mexico relations and children and adults were connected in meaningful ways on both sides with the recognition that the actions that take place on one side have a direct consequence on the other side.”
The two professors, who are a couple, also enjoyed the teeter-totter ride, sharing their pictures over the internet, captioning it, “Seesawing on the border.”
Videos took the world in awe and love poured in for the artists. Many netizens took it to their social media handles and praised the effort of the artists for representing togetherness, calling it to be the most wonderful piece of tactical urbanism and symbolism to not to exploit the lives of youngsters for dirty politics.
Berkeley's Ronald-Rael defying spaces once again.
The architect installed seesaws between the US-MX border.
A reference to the interdependence of these two nations.
A statement to stop using lives & youth to play political games. pic.twitter.com/heCAjhspa2
— Carlos R. de la Vega (@crdelavega_) July 29, 2019
Ronald Rael made me cry today.
Good tears.
Because design matters.
This is the most wonderful piece of tactical urbanism yet.#TeeterTotterWall pic.twitter.com/ScEzLChqxP— Kirsten Wilkins (@contestedspaces) July 30, 2019
