Centro Negra-AADK, Murcia, Spain

Spaces of Conviviality is a participatory project built upon notions of conviviality, displacement, identity and migration. In this work, I connect historical interpretations of “diversity” with contemporary issues of integration, specifically in the Murcia region, home to new immigrant communities over the past decade or so.

This project is greatly influenced by my research about The Book of Games, an illuminated manuscript of the XIII century, written by the king Alfonso X “The Wise” (1252-1284), who was an influential ruler in the Murcia region. The book serves as a compendium of lessons and eclectic world views in relation to faith, science, and moral rules. The gorgeous illustrations offer a representation of the king’s multicultural court and his aspirations for inclusion while using games as a platform for interaction.  

Inspired by the book, I created a project that captured a slice of the diversity that exists in this region today, greatly due to the presence of newly established immigrant communities. I created a ‘card game’ with guided questions that invited participants to engage in conversation and share personal stories and challenges. Their answers were transferred onto fabric and hand-embroidered onto badges by community members and volunteers. The badges served to construct an “identity flag” that celebrated individuals and their traits instead of a historical event or a privileged ruler from the past. The flag was unveiled as a public art event during Open Studios at the end of the residency. In a recent catalogue, Dr. Susan Earle states “For this and other recent projects by Velasco, the symbolic, emotional, and aesthetic power of visual patterns constitute a key element that provides participants meaningful forms to embody their thoughts”. Read the full essay here.

This project has been supported by the Research Excellence Fund, the International Travel Fund, and the General Research Fund at the University of Kansas. A recent publication by the KU Endowment Magazine can be accessed here.