Making Room for Abolition

Making Room for Abolition is an immersive installation that reimagines a world without police, prisons, or capitalism, explored through the lens of a domestic space. Created by the artist as part of a residency at the Detroit Justice Center, the installation invites visitors to engage with a living room filled with speculative artifacts that pose critical questions about abolitionist futures. Situated in Detroit, a city deeply shaped by over-policing and systemic abandonment, the work challenges the audience to imagine how everyday objects and practices might change in a world built on justice and care, rather than punishment and control.

The installation uses household items—like currencies, food packaging, and personal mementos—to ask fundamental questions: How might our economy shift? What would labour look like? How would we shape our environment and relationships in the absence of carceral systems? Through these artifacts, the work encourages visitors to engage in speculative thinking, contemplating a society that values human dignity over criminalization.

The project has evolved over time, with workshops and collaborations inviting Detroit-based artists and organizers to contribute their own visions of abolitionist futures. The website, makingroom.online, extends the installation’s reach beyond its physical location. It houses a digital archive of the original artifacts and offers an interactive platform for visitors to explore these speculative objects and accompanying essays. The site is structured to let users navigate the archive in a way that mirrors the physical experience of the installation—allowing them to choose their own path and interact with the materials at their own pace.

This digital archive is both a reflection of the original installation and an evolving space for future imaginings, inviting individuals to join the ongoing conversation about abolition and its possibilities. Through this platform, the work aims to cultivate a shared vision for a world that moves beyond the constraints of existing power structures.