Liberator

Co-author James Auger. New York and Dublin: MoMA and Science Gallery Dublin.

In the course of developing an exhibition at Science Gallery Dublin, we inevitably debate what belongs in the show, the qualities of particular pieces, and how each explores a particular aspect of the theme, or enhances the visitor experience. Sometimes, a piece is controversial, or unsuitable for younger visitors. And from time to time, the context is as important as the content: the right piece presented wrongly may be as bad as the wrong piece presented well.
Many of the pieces in this show provoke the visitor to consider the responsibility of the designer in creating the piece. Does responsibility lie with those who use the piece, or those who designed it? Is the designer indemnified from the uses of their design, or should they consider all possible pernicious (mis)uses of their creation? The infamous phrase “guns don’t kill people, people kill people” places the responsibility firmly on the user; however, this exhibition does ask what culpability — in terms of both science and design — lies with the ultimate originator of a design.
As creators of a public exhibition, it’s only reasonable to hold our own actions to the same standard. It is worth considering the primary and secondary effects of designing such an exhibition, and the choices made about its content. Unsurprisingly, more than previous shows, we had to discuss the legality, morality, and responsibility of exhibiting certain pieces in DESIGN AND VIOLENCE.