Displacement Division

Displacement Division is an installation created in collaboration with Van Le and Owen Coolidge (2019). This work proposes a speculative crime scene that addresses the instability and consequences—both environmental and cultural—of gentrification in Montreal. The installation is divided into two main components, each representing different datasets that illustrate the repercussions of gentrification.

The first dataset focuses on the social repercussions, such as the decentralization of low-income families, the growing disparity in housing, and the increasing number of evictions. This data is visualized through a 2D etching on a brick. These bricks are either sourced from demolished sites or created using remnants of such bricks, symbolizing the displacement of communities.

The second dataset addresses the environmental impact, including the amount of waste generated from demolished buildings, the materials used in new constructions, and the intended lifespan of these materials. This data is represented through a 3D glass model, cut into a tall and precarious structure. The fragility of the glass symbolizes the delicate balance of the urban environment.

Material Repercussions of Gentrification

The installation culminates in a performance piece where a brick is thrown into the glass structure, referencing the act of rebellion symbolized by a brick through a window. This act results in the mutual destruction of both materials, leaving behind a crime scene. This scene is symbolic of a speculative future where the cultural and environmental unsustainability of unchecked gentrification leads to societal and ecological collapse.

By framing gentrification as a crime scene complete with suspects, victims, and evidence, Displacement Division subverts society’s conflation of justice and power. This multi-media installation, filled with cryptic messages and symbolic artifacts, exposes the fragmented and non-linear nature of the knowledge required to address the "wicked" problem of gentrification. It challenges viewers to consider the foresightless nature of current development practices and their devastating impacts on both society and the environment.

Additional elements of the installation include:

- A brick engraved with data on Montreal's population density, questioning how we can halt the destructive path of gentrification.
- A laser-engraved glass piece featuring a diagram of sand mines, linking material extraction to urban development.
- An analogue TV displaying the moment of breakage.
- A scanned image of a brick fragment with its perimeter coordinates printed on vellum paper.

Alessia Canteros

Sculpture

On paper

Digital

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Displacement Division

Material Repercussions of Gentrification