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Transforming the Border Wall into a Teeter-Totter | Rael San Fratello | ARTIST STORIES

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What kinds of media, language, techniques, actions, style, etc. does it use to communicate?

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Can you suggest ways to improve, enhance or build on achieving its goals (the why) and the ways it communicates them (the how)?

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What is it seeking to achieve, say, communicate, evoke, etc.?

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In your opinion, how is it successful, powerful, evocative, etc. in realising its goals (the why) and the ways it communicates them (the how)?

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An art project that turned the border wall at the U.S.-Mexico border into the temporary base for pink seesaws - inviting children on each side to come play together - has won the London's Design Museum award for best design of 2020.

"We are totally surprised by this unexpected honor," said Ronald Rael, who designed the project with fellow architect Virginia San Fratello. They share the award, he said, with the Ciudad Juárez, Mexico-based art collective Colectivo Chopeke.

"That's amazing," San Fratello said in a video feed announcing the prize. The seesaw installation won both the overall prize and in the transportation category.

"Most importantly, it comes at a time when we are hopeful for change and that we start building more bridges instead of walls," Rael added.

"The Beazley Designs of the Year are the Oscars of the design world," said Razia Iqbal, a journalist who chaired the Design Museum's panel of judges. The award, she noted, highlights work that pushes boundaries of creativity and innovation.

The metal wall was meant to be a stark barrier dividing the U.S. and Mexico, the centerpiece of President Trump's aggressive immigration policies. But in one spot, it became a junction point instead - a fulcrum for a series of seesaws that let children in the two countries share a playground toy.

The project, officially named Teeter-Totter Wall, was first installed in July 2019 when workers slid steel beams through the slats of the border near El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez.

"For the first time, children from both El Paso, Texas, and the Anapra community in Mexico were invited to connect with their [neighbors], in an attempt to create unity at the politically divisive border," the museum said.

"Everyone was very happy and excited to engage the seesaws," Rael told NPR at the time. The installation went smoothly, turning an idea that had been growing for 10 years into a reality.

"It was peaceful and fun - a day at a park for the children and mothers of Anapra," Rael said.

"The project resonated with people around the world in a way that we didn't anticipate," San Fratello said when the award was announced. "It speaks to the fact that most people are excited about being together, and about optimism and about possibility and the future. And the divisiveness actually comes from the minority."

Rael is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley; San Fratello teaches at San José State University.

The seesaw project was chosen out of more than 70 nominees from dozens of countries, including a customized " stab-proof vest" that the artist Banksy designed for musician Stormzy.

Also considered: the gray and red rendering of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Commissioned by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and designed by Alissa Eckert and Dan Higgins, the famous sphere, with its menacing clusters of crowns, won the design award in the graphics category.

The Impossible Burger 2.0 won in the crowded product category, which also included Lego Braille bricks and a self-sanitizing door handle.

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Seesaws Built On U.S. Border Wall Win Prestigious Design Prize

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An art project that turned the border wall at the U.S.-Mexico border into the temporary base for pink seesaws - inviting children on each side to come play together - has won the London's Design Museum award for best design of 2020.

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unity, peace, humane

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building something that connects two separated lands and people

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shows how there is still hope and humanity in this world that tops political conflict

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nothing to improve in terms of the message but I do hope that this becomes a start to the end of all unnecessary disputes between leaders

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It is trying to show us the unity that mankind can have if we all just take a moment to look ahead of the wall and enjoy as well as appreciate whats behind it.

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The video was shown in a documentary way. As for the artists in the video, the use their imagination and draw out sketches and art related to the wall and they even constructed a type of see-saw which had its own symbolic meaning.

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It gives us hope in humanity as that is not given nearly enough nowadays. It reminded me of a line from John Lennon's and probably my favourite song 'Imagine', which says 'imagine if there's no countries...', and that connects this video to me as it shows us how seperated we are from each other just because we are not from the same country or the same religion. I think the goal of this video is to achieve peace in humanity and I'm all for it.

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I can't think of any improvements needed as of now, although I would like to see more of this type of mentality in all of us which is to offer peace and be more human rather than robots or monsters who offer nothing but hatred and violence. If we all look at each other as friends and family rather than foes or competition, then we will all be one step closer to reaching peace.

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The teeter-totter wall is conceptualised and built as a way to solve a social issue, where in this case, is the power inequality between people from the US and Mexico that was separated by a wall built from hatred. The teeter-totter hopes to show that even with physical divide, it is still possible for people to connect and unite.

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The teeter-totter requires two people on both sides for it to work as it was intended to. With the wall in the centre, the “divide” is more visually obvious, yet people on both sides of the wall can participate in the same activity. The teeter-totter sports bright colours and a simple design that is childlike to make it appear more approachable and to create familiarity with any viewers or participants.

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Awesomeness? (Wee Chloe and De Jia Xuan)

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Awesomeness? (Wee Chloe and De Jia Xuan)

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The teeter-totter acts as a perfect structure to connect people from the US and Mexico in a peaceful way which evokes a joyful connection rather than a violent one, the latter of which is often portrayed in media, creating a negative connotation when thinking of the US and the Mexico. It portrays a possibility to hope for a peaceful future where people can live harmoniously alongside each other and for unity to exist.

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Improvements? (Wee Chloe and De Jia Xuan)

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Improvements? (Wee Chloe and De Jia Xuan)

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A variety of patterns and colours could have been painted on the teeter-totter to represent other related social problems, such as human rights, gender inequality and so on, or to carry a clearer message of peace and unity.

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It is to achieve equality between people and to show that although they are separated by a built wall, it doesn't stop them from interacting and building relationships with each other by sitting on the teeter-totter.

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I gotta say that the creators are very creative in a sense where they think of putting the teeter-totter in between the gaps of the wall so that although people can't really interact much with the wall in the middle, but at least the teeter-totter helps to build connection where at the same time, they could make conversations and also have fun with the other partner on the other side of the wall.

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Despite some people hates Mexico and some hates US, it does not mean that everyone hates each other and the fact that the teeter-totter is built is to actually build and enhance the relationship that they are making between the two countries especially the children as we do not want them to grow up hating someone that they did not do wrong and just because they are enemies. I am really happy the fact that the creators make this possible so that we still have faith and humanity with everyone because hate is not an answer for everything.

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All I can say is that maybe the teeter-totter could be more vibrant in a sense that more colors and contrast could be added onto it so that it captures more attention from them whether adults or children to spark more conversations with other people so that although they are sitting on it, they could even make small and little conversations about it and slowly getting to know each other.

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It was made to unite the Americans with the Mexicans. The border wall was built by the US government to prevent further illegal immigrations, however border created some sort of family separation and even conflicts between those two countries. Hence, the Teeter-Totter or seesaws were built to create hope to be united and connected once again.

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They started out with an idea of ensuring the seesaws are able to lift children on both sides from the US and Mexico. They ensured the children’s safety by ensuring the lifting height wouldn’t be too long either. They were successful to ensure unity by letting the children from different borders to enjoy one same activity together despite having a divider in the middle. They also painted the seesaws in pretty hot pink colour as a symbolic to remember the women killed in femicides or died from violence against women. Although some may view it as only a colour, it is nice that they had a purpose and inserted a hidden meaning by choosing the hot pink colour.

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It truly gave me hope that there is still humanity these days. The wall was built with a negative intention to separate people. Hence, creates inequity and further conflict. With the Teeter-Totter, these young children can focus on building greater relationships despite their level of class, wealth or the background difference. Perhaps one day the children will grow into loving humans that strives for unity and harmony, it does give a good possibility that the relationship between the US and Mexico would be strengthen once again with the wall dismantled.

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Although I understand that they had to hurry when placing and locking the seesaws onto the wall due to the border patrols, perhaps it would have been better to have more Teeter-Totters to allow more children to play. It is quite difficult to think of an improvement, considering that there is a possibility (unsure high or low possibility) that this wall would be one day be dismantled. Maybe adding some patterns onto the seesaws would attract both children and adults to share the same joy together.

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To unite people that have been divided by the wall which builds tension amongst each other. The Teeter-Totter Wall serves as a gap to help mitigate and ease up the tension between country of different people.

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To unite the people from across the US and Mexico border, even if it's just for awhile.

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The video brought us through the creation process, the end results and the creators' hope for the future. By creating a means of connection among the citizens across the border from both countries, it further shows how people are yearning to be united, and how interaction can still be formed with the prevalence of a wall between them.

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The video was emotional and filled with hope, that the wall will no longer be an obstruction for the two countries to unite. As the wall has caused distress to many of the citizens affected, being able to see it replaced by joy, even for a short while was really heartwarming. To think that so many great interactions were formed within the short period of time that the Teeter-Totter was installed, wouldn't dismantling the wall be more beneficial towards the peace and harmony of both countries?

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Loved every aspect of the idea of the Teeter-Totter Wall. Would definitely hope to see more creations inspired by the Teeter-Totter Wall that aims to unite the two countries, in hopes of dismantling the obstruction one day.

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The teeter-totter wall is to show that the people united together again even though they are been separated by a built wall.

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The creators are doing their best to create something that can connect the people again through the teeter-totter wall. It is a great effort from them to create and it is also important for everyone as it could make changes and impacts towards them.

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The video clearly shows that the world are still full of humanity and hope although there are some conflict or violence happened in the past. But by just a move, it can actually change the mindset of the people behind the walls.

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I personally love the idea already and can't think of any ideas better than this. But maybe in the future, they can create more items like this where they are able to gather again between this walls. Hopefully sooner this movements can help them to reach a better relationship with those actions.

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The wall between the country is to show and unite the people even they are separated by the wall, to solve the current social issue

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The creators, they are doing their very best to connect the people through the teeter-totter wall. It could be impactful for the people across the country

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It shows us that there are still hope when it comes to connect people in different country, different races or different language. The people shall be unite together but not divide into 'categories'. It portrays and shows us that there's some possibilities for a peaceful and harmony between these countries

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I personally think that this kind of video will be too boring for people to watch till the end. The creators or the authors can add on a little bit of vibrant and play-in between the colors

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Using the wall that was used to divide both countries as a foundation for their See-saw, allowed for them to have fun despite being in different countries.

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To ease the tense relationship between the U.S and Mexico, and show that human should live in a borderless world where wall shouldn't exist

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The very first stage is to build a connection between people from two side, especially children as they are pure and curious. To visualise the "connection bridge", a pink see-saw namely, teeter-totter wall was designed and installed. It allowed people from two sides to play as if there is no wall.

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The creativeness of the designers did impressed me. The Teeter-Totter Wall converted the wall into a fulcrum to support the see-saw, which transform the purpose of a wall into supporting instead of dividing.

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Nothing is never too much, we need more facilities like this to tell the world that peace could be created. This idea is actually very great and inspiring. This program should be implemented and promoted by the government of U.S.

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It conveys the message clearly, to show that despite between each country for their own benefit, there is still hope and humanity despite being in different countries.

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For the time being, I am unable to think of any sort of improvements that can enhance its goal or its way of communication. The goal is clear, and the way of communicating is spectacular of itself.

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The teeter-totters may be modified into shorter one if possible. This is because shorter teeter-totter provides people the opportunity to chit-chat and exchange opinions on some topics transnationally. Relationship among each other will be improved and it is a very good chance to understand about other country’s culture better. Besides that, the teeter-totter can be painted in various colours which represent certain meaning. For example, the teeter-totter can be painted in United Nations blue which represent peace.

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Unity, equity and awareness are the main aims for this Teeter-totter wall. The boarder wall between United States and Mexico gives people the impression that difference between the rich and the poor exists among the two countries. This will directly affect the relationship and peacefulness between the two countries as people in Mexico may not be happy about this wall. Through this teeter-totter wall concept, people will leave behind the ‘power’ which try to separate them, and the relationship will be strengthen in the next few generations as more kids are attracted. Unity and equity can be achieved and balanced in an indirect way. Besides that, the colour of the teeter-totter is a reminder for people to avoid tragedy which may bring tremendous impacts.

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This concept succeeds in bringing the people two different countries closer. The teeter-totter wall is a good and creative platform to enable people from different country in realizing that they are actually prefer a peace and love world as they are willing to accept the existence of this wall.  Without this teeter-totter wall, they might have no chance to realize the fact that people from other side is actually not looking down and unsatisfied on them. To conclude, this teeter-totter wall allows two way interaction and communication between the 2 countries.

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The concept created by the architects is being delivered through documentary interview. The architects speak out their ideas in a semi-formal way. They use formal and polite language, of course, but through a more comfortable and natural way.

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Theyre trying to achieve unity, showing that the distance or something like a wall in this case could still solve social and humanity issue. Theyre trying to show that the connection could still be strong even with high barriers. Also, achieving racism by uniting the white people and the one of colour.

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It is via the teeter-totter that is known to be found at playgrounds and usually works with balancing 2 people on each end. This somehow forms a connection between the 2 people as it is required for the 2 to work together in order to make the teeter-totter work. It usually doesnt have a wall but the video showed that it could work even with a barrier of a wall between the 2 people.

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The awesome part of this is that it worked not only in terms of having fun and creating socialization among the 2 countries but it also worked in terms of uniting the two lands and ending the negative emotions by replacing it with joy and peace even with the barricade. It shows that even that wall doesnt stop humanity from playing its role, it depends on us humans on how we go about any situation.

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The whole idea of the teeter-totter is so great already in its own as an original idea. However, they can improve on adding some colours to it to make it more vibrant. It is already understood that it attracts children, can make it better for them with additional colours to get them more excited about it.