The Repellent Fence is an example of contextual practice; it is a collaborative work that engages many individuals and communities on both sides of the border. The two-mile-long installation, in place from October 9 to 12, was composed of 26 tethered balloons floating 15 metres above the ground. The balloons, which displayed an indigenous “scare-eye” symbol, were arranged in a line that intersected the border just west of Douglas/Agua Prieta. As a symbolic project, The Repellent Fence demonstrated the interconnectedness of the land and people on both sides of the border. It shifted the public discourse from the border itself to the people who live in the area.
The Design for the Living World class worked on the installation and dismantlement of The Repellent Fence on both sides of the border.
Design for the Living World, HFBK 