Rodrigo Tisi and Alfredo Jaar in the 20th Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism of Chile. Image © Manuel Albornoz
This article is based on a lecture given by Chilean artist and architect Alfredo Jaar at the 20th Architecture and Urbanism Biennale in Valparaiso, Chile, on October 26, 2017.
It’s June of 1980. Alfredo Jaar, a recent dropout of the University of Chile’s architecture program, walks through the center of Santiago carrying two large signs. He grabs a spot in the shade next to a kiosk and intercepts passers-by to ask them his questions. In the midst of a military dictatorship, Jaar wants the people to vote, but not for the constitutional plebiscite or in the democratic elections. He doesn’t even have paper or pencil for them to vote with. There’s no line to mark on. His campaign centers on a mint–white and round–like a casino raffle ball.
Jaar’s questions are loaded ones. “Are you happy?” (¿Es usted feliz?) he asks. “How many people in Chile do you think are happy?” “How many people in the world?”