Created by Alicia Eggert’s, neon text work “OURs” was organised by Planned Parenthood to exhibit across states whose lawmakers are challenging abortion rights. Flashing between the phrases “OUR ABORTIONS”, “OUR BODIES” and, “OUR FUTURES”, this month-long installation tour of the US first arrived in front of The Supreme Court in Washington DC on the 22nd of January, the 49th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade case briefing (“a constitution of the United States that protects pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction”). Alexis McGill Johnson, president and chief of Planned Parenthood, commented on the installation being a “beacon of light in the darkness of this moment” adding that they “will never stop calling for freedom to decide (their) own futures, whether it’s at the supreme court or in the states across the country”.
An estimate of nearly 25 million unsafe abortions take place annually in the world, and with the increase of abortion restrictions in several states, rumouring that the current Roe v. Wade constitution will be overturned, Eggert and Planned Parenthood’s neon installation is becoming even more significant today. Though sites are not announced prior to the installation, states are chosen on the pretence of their lawmakers challenging abortion rights. We do know however that the installation is headed to Ohio in the next upcoming weeks. These roving exhibitions will serve as a gathering place for supporters and, in some states, will be placed strategically in front of the state lawmakers as means of a more visible protest.
The real question here is, what can artists and supporters do to raise awareness on the travelling installation as well as the change in US law as lawmakers move to decimate abortion rights?
To begin with, it’s important to educate yourself on the movement overall by following Alicia Eggert on social platforms (@aplaceintheuniverse) as well as the official Planned Parenthood account (@plannedparenthood) to see where the installation will be travelling and why, as well as updates on the laws decided over abortion rights and the effect of these on women in the states. There are also hashtags on social media, #bansoffourbodies as well as #RoevWade that serve as major hubs in educating audiences on abortion rights and the changes in the US as well as the installation’s movement around the states. Though we may not be able to physically see this installation as it circles the US, it’s still important to share and involve ourselves in the cause to voice the struggles of these abortion laws and their changes as well as the effect on the women themselves.
“A person’s control over their own body determines how much control they have over their future, and how access to abortions is an essential part of that control” - Alicia Eggert, creator of "OURs" neon installation.