Living Democracy

What gives life to democracy? The Living Democracy exhibition at SOAS's Brunei Gallery explores the work of political representation in all its messy entanglements, including when the threads that hold it together start to break apart. 

Since 2019 a team of ethnographers – anthropologists, political scientists, communications scholars, filmmakers and photographers – have been researching the work of parliaments and politicians in Brazil, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, the US and the UK. In this exhibition these ethnographers present fresh insights into the relationship between elected politicians and those that they claim to represent.

Responding to the endlessly changing demands of different configurations of people and pressures, politicians constantly shift from the ordinary to the extraordinary and respond to varied audiences. Most of us are shapeshifters some of the time, but politicians do it to an amplified degree and with more serious consequences. Through the relationships we create with them, democracy comes alive.

Ethnographies of Parliament, Politicians and People is an ERC funded project based at SOAS University of London and led by Professor Emma Crewe.

Events

As part of the exhibition a festival of film screenings will take place January to March 2024. These are free and open to the public:

“A Câmara (The Chamber)”. Directed by Cristiane Bernardes and Tiago de Aragão. At 3pm on the 16th of January, 25th January (5.30pm) and 22nd February (5.30pm), Lower Ground Floor, Brunei Gallery (inside the Living Democracy exhibition).

“Megut: the Wheels of Democracy”. Directed by Mitiku Gabrehiwot. At 5pm, 17th January 2024, Alumni Lecture Theatre, Paul Webley Wing (Senate House) SOAS. At 1pm on the 17th of January, 1st February (5.30pm) and 29th February (5.30pm), Lower Ground Floor, Brunei Gallery (inside the Living Democracy exhibition).

“Full Council”. Directed by Richard Axelby and Shirley van der Maarel. At 3pm, 12th January 2024, Kalili Lecture Theatre, SOAS. At 3pm on the 18th of January, 8th February (5.30pm) and 7th March (5.30pm), Lower Ground Floor, Brunei Gallery (inside the Living Democracy exhibition).

“Elections in Paradise”. Directed by Tumeli Tuqota and Laisiasa Dave. At 3pm, 19th January 2024, Kalili Gallery Lecture Theatre SOAS. At 3pm on 15th February (5.30pm) and 14th March (5.30pm), Lower Ground Floor, Brunei Gallery (inside the Living Democracy exhibition).