A PATH TO TOLERANCE

In 2017, Mirko Ilić was inspired to launch the Tolerance Project following the “House of Tolerance” film festival in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He asked 28 artists to create a poster about tolerance, the only requirement being that they write “tolerance” in their native language. After a successful 10-day show in Ljubljana, Mirko decided to tour the posters globally. The Tolerance Project is dedicated to reach people that usually do not visit galleries or musems, and since 2017, it has brought a message of inclusion and acceptance to over 400,000 people in over 40 countries. Now visual arts and fashion design students from Miami International University of Art and Design students join forces to convey this important message so much in need nowadays.

WITH MIAMI INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ART & DESIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR: NESTOR CAMACHO MODELS: ALYSSA BARTASHY, SOPHIA WHIPPLE, IHEB DERBALI @ FRONT MANAGAMENT, TAYLOR @ THE WALK COLLECTIVE HAIR & MAKE-UP ARTISTS: LORENA ALVAREZ, SABINA KARAC PHOTOGRAPHY: FLÁVIO IRYODA RETOUCHING: LUIZ CAMARGO

THE WORD TOLERANCE COULD BE INTERPRETED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. TO ME, TOLERANCE MEANS ACCEPTING SOMETHING AND EMBRACING IT. IN MY EXPERIENCE, THE WORD TOLERANCE HAS MOSTLY BEEN USED IN A NEGATIVE WAY. FOR EXAMPLE, IN SCHOOL, MY TEACHERS WOULD ALWAYS COMPLAIN, “I CANNOT TOLERATE THIS BEHAVIOR, JOHEL! ” AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I PERCEIVED IT AS A NEGATIVE TERM, BUT IT’S DEFINITELY NOT A NEGATIVE TERM FROM MY FRESH PERSPECTIVE. TOLERANCE MEANS STEPPING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND EXPANDING YOUR BOUNDARIES.

<ARTIST: JOHEL PEREIRA | FASHION DESIGNER: CAROLINA RINCHERE> JOHEL PEREIRA –

TOLERANCE IS THE ABILITY OR WILLINGNESS TO TOLERATE SOMETHING, PARTICULARLY OPINIONS OR BEHAVIOR THAT ONE DOES NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH. WORKING ON THIS PROJECT WAS MEANINGFUL TO ME AS I BELIEVE IN TOLERANCE FOR EVERYONE. NO PERSON SHOULD BE DISRESPECTED, HARMED, OR DEGRADED FOR SIMPLY LIVING IN THEIR TRUTH, BE IT THEIR SEX, RACE, RELIGION, ETHNICITY, SEXUALITY, AND ANY OTHER ASPECTS OF THEIR LIFE THAT MAKE THEM DIFFERENT FROM ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. TOLERANCE IS SIMPLY THE MOST BASIC DECENCY WE ALL DESERVE AND STILL A LONG WAY FROM ACTUAL EQUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE. –

<ARTIST: JOHEL PEREIRA | FASHION DESIGNER: TAYLOR CROSLEY>

TO BE TOLERANT IS THE ABILITY TO ACCEPT THE EXISTENCE AND OPINIONS OR BEHAVIORS OF OTHERS, NOT TO JUDGE AND UNDERSTAND <ARTIST: CECILIA MARTI | FASHION DESIGNER: VIVIANA HERNANDEZ> CECILIA MARTI –THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US.

DANIELA GABAY –LONG AS WE DON’T HARM OTHERS WITH OR FOR THEM, TOLERANCE MEANS UNDERSTANDING EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND TREATING THEM WITH RESPECT. THE PSYCHO-DYNAMIC THEORY REVOLVES AROUND HOW INFLUENTIAL YOUR PAST IS IN RELATION TO YOUR CURRENT SELF. IT IS UNSETTLING KNOWING THAT PREVIOUS DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE OUTSIDE OUR GRASP, AND HAS SUBSTANTIALLY IMPACTED OUR OVERALL DEVELOPMENT. MY GARMENT AIMS TO VISUALLY DISPLAY HOW CLOSE WE WERE (AND CURRENTLY ARE) TO BEING DISPLACED IN A SIGNIFICANTLY DISSIMILAR SCENARIO AND STRUGGLING MENTAL STATE, AND TO REPRESENT HOW LITTLE INPUT WE REALLY HAVE ON THE MATTER.

GREGORY FLESH –

TOLERANCE IS THE ABILITY OR WILLINGNESS TO TOLERATE SOMETHING, PARTICULARLY OPINIONS OR BEHAVIOR THAT ONE DOES NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH. WORKING ON THIS PROJECT WAS MEANINGFUL TO ME AS I BELIEVE IN TOLERANCE FOR EVERYONE. NO PERSON SHOULD BE DISRESPECTED, HARMED, OR DEGRADED FOR SIMPLY LIVING IN THEIR TRUTH, BE IT THEIR SEX, RACE, RELIGION, ETHNICITY, SEXUALITY, AND ANY OTHER ASPECTS OF THEIR LIFE THAT MAKE THEM DIFFERENT FROM ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. TOLERANCE IS SIMPLY THE MOST BASIC DECENCY WE ALL DESERVE AND STILL A LONG WAY FROM ACTUAL EQUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE. –

<ARTIST: CHICA JACOBS | FASHION DESIGNER: TAYLOR CROSLEY>