Gather: Justicia

Boyce was invited to take part in a one-month residency at ‘Afuera! Contemporary Art in Public Spaces’, an international art project curated by Gerardo Mosquera and Rodrigo Alonso, in conjunction with the Cultural Center España Córdoba, which took place in October 2010 across the city of Córdoba, Argentina. The aim of her residency was to create a new art work that would respond to the city and its people. During the research period Boyce learnt about the devastating consequences of the military junta (1976-1983), and the systematic abductions of men, women and children, often sent to secret detention centres across the city that methodically used torture and murder. The Museo de la Memoria, where Boyce worked, was a former clandestine centre that was operated by the dreaded Department of Intelligence. The Museum now has a remit to document the atrocities that took place there.

In October 2010, Boyce invited a choral group directed by Gustavo Maldino to sing the poet Maria Elena Walsh's rousing protest song ‘Oración al la Justicia’ (A Prayer to Justice) to a series of photographs of the disappeared in the Museo de la Memoria. As part of this performance, members of the general public were invited via a local radio station announcement to join Boyce at the Museum to become participants in the making of Gather: Justicia, a film of the performance. The day of the performance and filming prompted emotional reactions, as many people who took part (choir members and general public) had personal connections to those who had fallen victim to the Department of Intelligence. The day’s proceedings proved to be a very cathartic experience. The Gather: Justicia video was shown in the ‘Afuera! Contemporary Art in Public Spaces’ exhibition.