STANDING STRONG

Standing Strong is a long term multimedia project that uses photography and augmented reality to confront colonial narratives and foreground Indigenous strength and continuity. Presented as part of the ENCODED unsanctioned AR exhibition, the work activated public and institutional spaces—most notably The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s American Wing—transforming how Indigenous presence is experienced and understood.

Challenge

Mainstream art and historical institutions have long framed Indigenous peoples through static, colonial perspectives, often stripping contemporary movements of visibility and context. Born from the 2016 protests opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock, the project emerged in response to the urgent need for Indigenous communities to control their own representation during moments of resistance and beyond.

Solution

Standing Strong evolved into a living platform for self-authored storytelling, using emerging technology as a tool for reclamation rather than spectacle. By layering AR experiences onto self made portraits, the project reinserted Indigenous narratives into public view—disrupting traditional art spaces and inviting audiences to engage with stories of resilience on Indigenous terms.

Across its iterations, the project has grown into a vehicle for collective voice, enabling collaborators to define their own image, guide their narrative, and reshape how history, protest, and legacy are co-created.