Immaterial Monuments, Narrative Inequality and Glocal Social Work. Towards Critical Participatory Community Art-Based Practices

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study is to ask critical questions about the immaterial narrative force of monuments and social justice related to place and space, and to develop an interdisciplinary, participatory, art-based methodology for the study of narrative inequality in glocal social work. The study begins with the glocal turn in social work, a condition characterised by a critical understanding of the interlinked and intersectional localities within a world perspective, theoretically and methodologically reshaped towards space, the arts, architecture and interdisciplinary practice-based collaborations. It develops participatory art as a tool for dialogue and critical spatial practice in urban environment by drawing upon critical scholarship on participatory art projects and the author’s experiences as a guest participant within the project ‘Immaterial Monuments’ in the Western Balkans. Experiences from this project are used as a catalyst to illustrate and discuss how participatory community art and social sculpture, with illustrations from photography and poetry, are useful for visualising the language of narrative inequality. The study argues that the question of how immaterial monuments reflect the worldviews and dominant narratives of privileged elites restrict spaces for marginalised people, and that glocal social work research, education and practice needs to promote anti-discriminatory and social justice perspectives through the critical study of immaterial monuments.