Abstract
Statelessness represents a critical humanitarian issue marked by the systemic erasure of identity and legal visibility. In the age of algorithmic governance, these marginal narratives face a double exclusion, filtered and suppressed by platform dynamics. This research addresses this gap by seeking to develop the theoretical framework of Digital Visual Empowerment (DVE). Integrating leading theory on the Live Archive with a critical framework for Counter-Curatorial Practice, DVE posits that structured image-making can actively redistribute Algorithmic Agency to marginalized communities. Methodologically, the research combines long-term Visual Ethnography in stateless communities in Southeast Asia (e.g., Northern Thailand) with Art-Based Participatory Research (ABPR). A core component is the prototyping of digital visualization tools (e.g., interactive maps, algorithmic dashboards) through Narrative Optimization Design—an anti-algorithmic intervention aimed at achieving Algorithmic Resistance and enhancing visual trust. The expected outcomes include the Performative Digital Atlas (a Live Digital Archive with an ethical Tiered Authorization Mechanism) and a Counter-Curatorial Dashboard (an Algorithmic Resistance Toolkit). This work demonstrates that design functions not merely as representation, but as an act of political redistribution, generating multimodal, affective knowledge for social justice and policy dialogue.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
New Media, Technology and the Arts
KEYWORDS
Stateless Narratives, Participatory Art, Algorithmic Agency, Digital Visual Empowerment, Counter-Curatorial
