Easy English

A painting by I Gusti Ayu Kadek Murniasih entitled Story of Phenomphen from 2003. On the artwork the lap of a person sitting cross-legged is being depicted. The legs are red. Wrapped around this lap is another lap. This can be seen from behind. There is a green butterfly where the two laps meet. The background of the painting is green. The work is framed by a blue striped frame.

Murni (I Gusti Ayu Kadek Murniasih), Story Of Phenomphen (2003). Courtesy of the Estate of I Gusti Ayu Kadek Murniasih

Forgive us for breaking rules

The name of our project is "Forgive Us Our Trespasses".

It means

"Forgive us for breaking rules."

The project makes people think about rules.

And why we follow the rules.

It is a research and exhibition project.

Exhibition means:

Showing art and research results.

The project shows:

Sometimes we break rules to fight bad rules.

Then we should not have to say sorry.

And no one should have to say sorry

if they have done nothing wrong.

No one should say sorry for who they are.

For example:

Don't say sorry for working in another country.

Don't say sorry for fleeing to a safer country.

Don't say sorry for believing or not believing in a god.

Don't say sorry for who you love or for being queer.

Don't say sorry for protecting the environment.

Don't say sorry for taking back the land of your people.

The project shows:

We can fight for a better world.

By breaking rules.

We can fight for everyone to have the same rights.

No matter

their gender

or skin color

or how much money they have.

Breaking rules

can bring people together.

People with different ideas and different lives.

And it makes us think:

When should we not follow rules?

When should we fight bad rules?

What rules are useful and what rules are just made up?

Artists can break our rules, too!

They can change everything.

How we see the space

and how we use the lawns.

They can create new places

for other people

who also break the rules.

The project asks:

If the rules keep people out

what about breaking the rules?

Can doing things differently include more people?

How can artists create an unusual life?

One that we do not want to undo?

But one that creates a new way of living.

And that includes everyone.

This project is about finding new ideas

and new ways of life.

It is about getting lost and finding new ways.

About being wrong

and discovering new truths.