Final Intervention- Ramandeep Kaur

 PRESENTATION

My performance piece titled "Folded Voices" shows how silence can become a powerful form of communication, especially when people feel unable to express their true emotions. I am building on my original idea by researching how artists use participation, written text, and quiet actions to create emotional impact. I looked at performance artists like Yoko Ono, who often uses simple gestures to invite reflection. Sophie Calle, who works with hidden messages and personal secrets and Jenny Holzer. I also researched communication theory, specifically how “unspoken dialogue” can shape relationships, and how the act of withholding words can carry as much meaning as speaking them. 

The main message in my project is the folded paper, which represents protected feelings and the way people hide their emotions from the world. The clear jar symbolizes transparency we can see that these unspoken thoughts exist, even if we don’t know exactly what they say. The location of my performance will be a quiet corner of the classroom or gallery space, where people feel safe enough to participate without feeling watched or judged. My goal is to create an atmosphere where silence feels intentional instead of awkward or empty.

For materials, I used blank sheets of paper, pens, a clear jar labeled “Unspoken,” a black marker, small pieces of tape, and a board to display the altered messages. 

The performance was presented at  GSUB, Library and the gaming club.I invited audience members to write one sentence about something they have never said out loud a thought, a fear, or a wish. After they wrote it, I showed them how to fold the paper corner to corner into a small square, which symbolizes the act of tucking away a feeling. Then they placed their folded paper into the jar. When all the papers have been collected, I will carefully open a few of them and covered certain key words with tape, leaving behind incomplete sentences. These fragments then were posted on the board where everyone can walk around and read them. The missing words create space for imagination, interpretation, and empathy. The entire project becomes a quiet, shared reflection on how much we hide, how much we carry, and how meaning changes when pieces of our stories stay unspoken. 

One of the feedback that I received was "I didn't know I was going to get it off of my chest this way, it felt like putting away a heavy rock that i had been carrying for a while." - Emily A.

I chose this topic because many people struggle to express their emotions openly, especially in environments where vulnerability is discouraged. As Bell Hooks says in Understanding Patriarchy, “Patriarchy demands of men that they become and remain emotional cripples,” which shows how emotional suppression affects everyone, not just men. This project responds to that reality by creating a space where emotions are allowed, shared, and validated. By choosing an anonymous and accessible format, I wanted to remove fear and judgment, allowing honesty to exist freely while showing that personal struggles are rarely isolated experiences.

Also, This Is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew states "Small actions foster change. Our activism, like any other part of ourselves, develops into something bigger than a singular experience. Activism is a collective action and an investment in the lives of other people"(page 61). Writing a single sentence may feel small, but when collected and displayed, those small actions turn into a shared emotional experience.

Another quote from The Art of Activism by Steve Duncombe & Steve Lambert states "Art allows us to say things that can’t be said, to give form to abstract feelings and ideas and present them in such ways that they can be communicated with others"(page 25). This directly connects to Folded Voices because the project gives people a way to express feelings they cannot say out loud. Even when words are hidden or taped over, the emotion is still communicated.

This project fits into my portfolio because it shows my ability to design interactive experiences, work with conceptual ideas, and engage an audience emotionally. It shows that I can use simple materials to communicate complex ideas. This aligns with my interest in work that involves communication, observation, and understanding human behavior, all of which are important skills in my professional goals.

Sophie Calle – Take Care of Yourself - Sophie Calle created Take Care of Yourself after receiving a breakup email from her partner. Instead of keeping it private, she asked over 100 women from different backgrounds to read and respond to the message in their own ways. Some responses crossed out or changed parts of the text, showing how meaning can shift. By sharing the message with others, Calle turned a personal experience into a collective one that explores heartbreak, communication, and interpretation.

Yoko Ono – Wish Tree- Yoko Ono’s Wish Tree is a participatory art project where people are invited to write their wishes on small pieces of paper and tie them to a tree. The work focuses on hope and personal dreams, giving people a chance to quietly share something meaningful to them. Because anyone can participate, private wishes become part of a larger collective experience. The tree becomes a symbol of connection, showing how many individual hopes can exist together in one shared space.

Jenny Holzer - Truisms (1977–present) - Jenny Holzer created hundreds of short, direct statements such as “Abuse of power comes as no surprise” and “Protect me from what I want.” She displayed these phrases on posters, electronic LED signs, benches, and public walls. The statements are meant to be read quickly in everyday spaces, catching people off guard and making them stop and think. Her work connects to my project because both focus on short pieces of text, anonymity, and public reflection. Holzer’s words feel personal but are not tied to one person, just like the anonymous thoughts placed in my jar. Both projects use simple language and public space to turn private thoughts into shared experiences, allowing the audience to interpret meaning on their own.

Below are some Images and from my project: