Project 6

📄 Description

As a part of this project, we were required to carry out a performance art titled Breaking Down Barriers by our team, Eco Warriors, under the theme of Group Polarization. We decided to present the social exclusion that transgender (hijra) community faces in Bangladesh. To communicate this, we designed "Trashion", fashion made from discarded materials like chip packets, shopping bags, and sacks. Our performance featured two models wearing outfits that combined both male and female attributes (such as a Sherwani top with a skirt bottom) to symbolize gender fluidity.

🔍 Justification

As the hijra community in Bangladesh faces challenges such as social exclusion, we chose this topic to challenge the extreme social divisions (polarization) that lead to the unfair treatment of transgender individuals. For communicating the social issues that the Hijra community faces, and disseminating the message to the audience, performance art was an effective way. We aimed to showcase that beauty and value can be represented using recyclable items, "trash," which society often overlooks. As this project revolved around material sourcing, costume designing, live performance, and crafting engaging dialogue, it allowed our team to discover our individual abilities.

📊 Key Outcomes

• This project helped me explore the alternative ways of communicating, such as through the powerful "language" of fashion and performance. I learned how to apply the theory of Group Polarization to real-world social issues, seeing how diverse viewpoints can lead to the marginalization of specific communities. Technically, I gained experience in "Trashion" production, learning how to repurpose unconventional materials into wearable art. I also improved my audience research skills by interviewing spectators to verify if our message of gender equality was clearly received.