Shielding Justice: Cannupa Hanska Luger's Artistic Activism and Beyond Favorite 

Practitioner: 

Date: 

Jan 1 2016

Location: 

North Dakota

This protest installation was first used in 2016 at Standing Rock when the community banded together to protect the Missouri River from a Dakota Access Pipeline.

The mirror shields can protect against non-lethal deterrents like rubber bullets that may be used by police forces. But the project is also a form of protest art—inviting police to confront themselves and their own humanity and to discourage violence against otherwise peaceful protestors.

This project was inspired by images from a protest where a Ukrainian woman held up a glass mirror to riot police. These mirrors are different though, as they are made from safe materials.

Artist Cannupa Hanska Luger was the originator of a video tutorial explaining how to create these mirror shields. He started the project after learning about the threat to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Reservation’s water supply. He sent out an open call for participation and used his large online community to generate support during his residency at the Institute of American Indian Arts. People from across the country created and sent these mirror shields in support of the protestors.

The materials are commonly found in the household, making participation easier and affordable. One sheet of plywood can be used to fabricate 6 mirror shields. They can be produced and sent anonymously by anyone with time and passion for justice. Luger had safety at top of his mind, so the mirror's shields use reflective vinyl and no further injury will be caused to protestors or bystanders.

“I didn’t want people to bring mirrors to the front line and get hit with batons and cause more damage than good. So what we needed was a mirrored shield,” Luger said.

The shields have gone on to take on a life of their own and have been used most recently in a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020. This project showcases the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

This form of protest art shows clearly “that art is a verb” and is “straddling the line between an art installation and practical defense equipment.”

External sources: 

https://www.artshelp.com/mirror-shield-project/
Posted by Raeeee on Apr 29 2024

Staff rating: 

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Effectiveness

How does this project help?

Activates (people)Energizes and organizes people into action. Can include emotion work
Amplifies (issue or campaign)Brings public and political attention to an issue or campaign.  Can include prefigurative action, making the invisible visible.
Strengthens (community)Strengthens, builds and celebrates community through ritual and/or symbol.

Timeframe For change

This project seems to be part of a campaign with a clear long-term goal. Long-term goals tend to be things like: end racism; end homophobia; make the sun stand still in the sky. A campaign with a long-term goal also needs to have some kind of theory of change.
This project seeks to promote systemic changes toward peace and justice. By fostering reflective practices among law enforcement, it aims for long-term cultural and policy shifts that support non-violent conflict resolution and uphold human rights.

Notes

The shields, designed to reflect the actions of law enforcement back at themselves, serve as a powerful deterrent against unnecessary force. This dual functionality not only shields protesters physically from non-lethal weapons but also encourages police officers to consider their actions, fostering a more introspective approach to crowd control.