In my literature research on artivism, the main question was when an art project becomes activist. According to the book Trust: Building on the Cultural Commons (2024) by Pascal Gielen, you can create a micro-society within your art when you create a social situation in which people can interact with one another differently or in new ways. Gielen describes an artivism project as something that engages the viewer, fosters interaction, and serves as a temporary space where new perspectives can be tested. 

A “micro-society” means that you invite the audience to experience a new way of thinking and interacting through your art. In my project, I utilized artivism by creating a social space where men could reflect on their experiences with safety and respond to women’s stories. My goal is to encourage my audience to have more conversations about safety, and they see an example of having a conversation in the interviews with men. 

My goal is to start a conversation about safety for women instead of seeing it as individual stories. I want to encourage men to talk about this subject so I'll include men and women in my work. My artwork becomes an example of a new social interaction on this subject.