sarah ross defies hostile + inaccessible architecture with 'archisuits'

challenging everyday spatial politics

Exploring spatial politics in cities across the USA for over two decades, Chicago-based artist Sarah Ross leverages the power of multimedia and live interventions to promote resistance against rampant injustice and violence targeting race, gender, and class. Despite the time lapsed from her earlier works — going as far back as 2003 — most still hold strong relevance today. Exemplifying that relevance is ‘Archisuits’ (2005-2006), a satirical recreation of jogging outfits meant to defy the hostile and politically-charged architecture pervading American cities like Los Angeles.

all images © Sarah Ross

resisting urban injustice with ‘archisuits’

Hostile architecture, also known as ‘anti-homeless architecture’, is the practice of setting up purposefully uncomfortable and rough structures across cities to prevent the poor and homeless from using them as temporary resting points. Examples include slanted benches, spikes under roads, divided seating, and fenced grates. But that hostile take on city planning has quickly trickled down to other citizens by denying them comfortable and accessible public spaces and walkability.

‘Archisuits’ by Sarah Ross was first launched in 2005-2006

Sarah Ross translated her objection to that issue into a satirical act of defiance. She designed four light blue jogging suits, each fitted with excess bulges of fabric that can snugly go over the negative space of uninviting benches, fences, and building fronts. Explaining the concept behind her approach, the artist writes: ‘The suits […] allow a wearer to fit into, or onto, structures designed to deny them. The project points at architecture as an arm of the law, a form that uses the built environment to police and control raced, classed and gendered bodies. Archisuits suggest a wearer might resist by not only being present but being present comfortably, leisurely.’

creating excess pockets of fabric that fit into the negative space of structures