Narrative Spaces of Conflict and Social Repair: The Conflictorium and Museum of Conflict (Ahmedabad)

Abstract

This chapter examines the significance of the Museum of Conflict (MoC) as part of the overarching Conflictorium project for social justice in Ahmedabad, India. The Conflictorium and MoC aim to foster an understanding of social justice by presenting the contested histories and legacies of conflict in Ahmedabad, by inviting museum visitors to contribute personal narratives regarding conflict, and by providing residencies and project spaces for artists, who address notions of conflict in their works. The MoC creates narrative spaces and experiences of (un)learning, affective engagement, reflection, and participation that advance engagement with issues of social conflict, while also supporting forms of social repair. I argue that the Museum productively mobilizes notions of conflict, which have shaped the contested communal relations of Ahmedabad, through a multi-staged, multidimensional approach, which creates narrative environments, including exhibition galleries, participatory and performative spaces, and art installations.