Artist Statement

A new development, Union Oaks, in Lowertown, Saint Paul. (Photo: Nigel Parry/nigelparry.net)

Jump into the timeline of an urban community and witness what happens when a predatory corporation enters the cultural ecosystem. Created by artists, musicians and performers from the Lowertown art community, Domination Corporation is a participatory installation that features a stage set replica of a city block complete with interactive storefronts. Over the course of the night the installation transforms, altering the way that viewers are allowed to participate.

A new development, Union Oaks, in Lowertown, Saint Paul. (Photo: Nigel Parry/nigelparry.net)

Using gentrification as a lens, Domination Corporation sheds light on the destructive nature of the “profit first” mentality that rules global economy and lends justification to the endless expansion of corporations. Significantly, this mentality has enabled cultural destruction through colonization and gentrification while simultaneously contributing to the destruction of the environment.

The project illuminates the interconnection of climate and culture and observes that healthy ecosystems and healthy social systems share a common organizational structure built on diversity. The goal of illuminating the parallel between culture chaos and climate chaos is to expose the shared thought pattern that underpins them both and spark a conversation about intersectional approaches to addressing the problem.