Antonia Wright: State of Labor

Antonia Wright explores emotion, control, and violence linked to societal power systems through video, performance, photography, sculpture, sound, and light. “State of Labor” is a generative sound art composition using data sonification to protest restrictive abortion laws following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. This ruling eliminated the constitutional right to abortion, leading to bans in many states, disproportionately impacting low-income people of colour and minorities. They face unsafe procedures, forced pregnancies, or long journeys for care.

Wright sonifies data on these issues, including the rising mileage required for access. Partnering with midwives, she incorporates labour sounds, including her own 2015 home birth. Softer sounds play for average travel distances, while guttural noises reflect increased mileage caused by abortion bans. Data comes from the Guttmacher Institute, a key reproductive health authority. As a mother, Wright aims to rally support for bodily autonomy and against compulsory parenthood.