THe interactive social spectacle

The Birthstriker is a digital interactive art installation that emphasises on the juxtaposition of having children - a hard and unpleasant decision for most young women in times of climate change. Striking a pose in a wasteland, the woman in the projected installation gives birth to babies, as the spectators cheer and applaud - the louder the cheers the more babies shoot out of her naked exposed body. But as the audience quickly finds out, the babies are dead, falling into a trashed landscape. This installation sets to leave the spectator with a feeling of disturbance. The artist wants to provoke a mixed reaction and therefore prompt the audience to rethink the topics at hand. With the interaction of the users, the artwork becomes a complete social commentary.

The Movement

'BirthStrike' is a global movement of young members pledging not to have children in a world facing ecological breakdown and civilization collapse due to climate change consequences.

In the recent years, the consequences of climate change became more and more evident. Melting poles, rising sea levels, extreme weather phenomena and climate refugees are now daily present issues. Climate change is making many young people rethinking their personal life choices - limiting emissions, not having children, avoiding flying and eating a plant-based diet are considered among the most important changes for developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Along with the 'Extinction Rebellion' movement, a growing group of young people consciously decide to give up having children to raise awareness to the dooming future outlook of humankind.

At the same time, decreasing birth rates all over the world pose a problem for our existing economical system - a system which builds on continues financial growth. With increasing advancements in gender equality, education of women, overall improvements of living standards and higher life expectancy, the number of newborn children in developed countries are plummeting. The supply of prime-age workers become dangerously low to upkeep the economic growth, leading to unemployment, inflation and wealth decline.

These dire consequences are still deeply embedded into our societal image of women. Women at a certain age that don’t have children are heavily judged, even if they lead independent lives - especially by conservative generations.