Extractive Taskscapes: Lithium & Slow Violence in Sonora/Mexico
Sonora, MexicoSummer 2021, GSAPP
Collaborators: Yani Gao, Zihan Sun
Critic: Gabriela Etchegaray, Jorge Ambrosi
Video
Lithium, the main component of fast charging, electricity storing lithium-ion batteries, has become the most forthcoming mineral globally. The demand for lithium ore is growing triple folds, responding to our desire to be constantly connected on electronic devices and the worldwide transition to ‘green’ electric cars. In the hope to lead to a social consciousness of the invisible violence and shorten the distance between us and this industry’s productional, environmental and societal impact, we are investigating the processes and relationships from the birthplace of lithium- the mining site. By drawing the taskscape of a new lithium mine in Sonora, Mexico, we examined the violence brought on by the production of this mineral, which lies hidden behind a facade that the developed world comfortably ignores. A mineral that supposedly helps construct a greener future for us while the burdens are imposed upon the invisible many.
