“ho fatto giallo” /  “I was very afraid”

                “Is it surprising that prisons resemble factories, schools, barracks, hospitals, which all resemble prisons? -- M. Foucault

Born in Socialist Poland in 1981, my childhood is filled with memories of joy, discipline, and societal constraints. From the excitement of Santa Claus delivering tangerines to the unique taste of licorice from my father's trips to Sweden, each moment is vivid. Summer camp vacations brought simple pleasures, like strawberry jam sandwiches on green meadows, alongside challenges such as lice infestations. However, beneath these memories lies a strict culture where rule-breaking was met with punishments like kneeling on bags of dry peas or public spankings.

In this project, I explore the complex interplay of memory, childhood, and contemporary society. The hundreds of small bags made from luxury fabric waste and filled with dried peas serve as powerful symbols. They reflect the consumption frenzy of capitalist societies and the idea of mass production of today’s market. These bags also highlight society's contradictions, as they are used for postural corrections or as stimming toys, illustrating our struggles for freedom and happiness.

In our quest for liberation, we often find ourselves constrained by societal norms, seeking extreme experiences to feel alive. I invite viewers to interact with these bags, engaging with these paradoxes and reflecting on the complexities of our shared existence.

- 2017

- installation