​MAPPING DISSENT

Whether captured by law enforcement or activists, mass protests are increasingly well documented in visual and audio registers. In a battle for control of the narrative, this torrent of data offers opportunities for untangling contested events and countering state-sponsored fear-mongering. The class will be focused on suppression of dissent and the ways in which technology and design can be reappropriated to create new methods for justice and accountability. We will study historical and contemporary protests and the role artists, architects, and activists play in rendering visible the relationship between cities, law enforcement and excessive use of force. We will use open source softwares to go through the processes of 4D event reconstruction; starting with simple OSINT techniques to collect and verify visual evidence, creating a collaborative archive to analyze the material, and compiling the findings with 2D and 3D tools to situate the sequence of events in its geospatial and temporal context. The final output will be determined by the participants, ranging from short videos, written articles, simple interactive websites etc. Participants should expect to work in groups, there are no heroes, and interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts are often the most effective in creating impact and meaningful change.

INSTRUCTORS

Gauri Bahuguna is a computational designer and researcher dedicated to exploring intersections of art, human rights, and emerging technologies. As Deputy Director at SITU Research, she has led investigations into human rights violations in Sudan, short form films mapping evidence of ISIL’s crimes in Iraq for the UN, and co-designed “Patterns of Life” a collaboration with journalist Mona Chalabi for the Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial. ​
Image credit: SITU Research
THIS CLASS IS AVAILABLE IN PERSON
​AT ABRONS ARTS CENTER:
466 Grand Street, NY, NY

THURSDAYS 6-8 PM
April 2 - April 23 , 2026
4 sessions +
culminating share out on Friday, April 24
Sliding scale tuition: 
$45, $120, $220, ​or $320
+ $30 non-refundable registration fee
This program is supported, in part, through public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
Additionally, our classes are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.