Measuring inequality
قياس عدم المساواة
This measuring cup demonstrates the unequal division of water enforced by the Israeli occupation forces across Palestine. Filled to the top line (500 ml), it represents the average 300 litres that Israelis consume daily. If you fill it to the middle line (167 ml), it means the amount of water the World Health Organization recommends per person daily. Filled only to the bottom line (117 ml), you see the average amount of water Israel allows for Palestinians in the West Bank.
The cup lacks traditional measurement values, reflecting that many Palestinians must constantly calculate the remaining amount of water because rooftop water tanks are refilled irregularly. Navigating this water apartheid, Palestinians have to think: “If I take a shower now and do the dishes, can I still wash my clothes as well?”
The three amounts are not exact but proportional, based on the available data during our create-shop in 2015.
- Further reading:
Water insecturity or Water apartheid? by the Slow Factory [Instagram post] - Palestinian Natural Resources: The Occupation Benefits and Palestinians Pay The Price by Michael Jabareen’ [infographic in PDF]
- Targeted Environment: The Effects of Israeli Occupation on The Palestinian Environment [infographic in PDF]
- Mirte Van Duppen (NL)
Mirte van Duppen is a Dutch designer, researcher and visual artist. She studied Graphic Design at ArtEZ Institute of the Arts in Arnhem (BA Design) and graduated from the Design Department, alias Think Tank for Visual Strategies, of the Sandberg Instituut in Amsterdam (MA Design). In her work she analyses the function, interrelations and transformative powers of urban landscapes and the human interaction with these landscapes. With her intuitive and at the same time really precise way of documenting she shows, reveals and evokes something from the viewer. Through direct interaction with these landscapes, and their underlying (un)-written rules, functions, history, and their users, she explores the terrain between fieldwork and storytelling.
- Helen Underhill
Glass
26 x Ø 6 cm
€47,50