Lighting up resistance: Dalit Women Fight projections and the power of ambient activism

Arts activisms and gender-based violence through transnational perspectives

Abstract

This article highlights the transformative potential of projection activism in sparking feminist discourse and advocating for equity, emphasising its role in occupying and redefining public spaces to challenge and dismantle oppressive structures. Using as a case study the Dalit Women Fight projections (2015) on the Brooklyn Bridge and on the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations building in New York, curated by the US-based activist collective The Illuminator, the article illustrates the potent role of ambient activism in a ddressing g ender-based v iolence a nd a dvocating for feminist equity. By occupying public spaces with powerful visual narratives, the projections serve as a catalyst for public discourse on feminism, particularly spotlighting the pervasive issue of caste-based sexual violence against Dalit women in India. Therefore, this article aims to delve into how projection activism, by showcasing political content outside institutionalised actions, transforms spaces into vibrant arenas of protest. Here, the built environment itself becomes a dynamic participant in the collective dissent, turning ordinary urban landscapes into powerful stages for social and political expression.