‘Opium of the People’, Aluminum Dye Sublimation, 100 X 150 cm (40 X 60 inches), 2020."Religion is the opium of... Read More
‘Opium of the People’, Aluminum Dye Sublimation, 100 X 150 cm (40 X 60 inches), 2020.
"Religion is the opium of
the people" is one of the most frequently paraphrased statements of German
sociologist and economic theorist Karl Marx. The interpretation of the metaphor
in its present context humbly tries to reflect the current state of politics in
many western developed societies, and the correlated increasing social polarization.
The major inspiration for
creating this artwork was George Orwell’s ‘1984’ dystopian novel, which was published in 1949. Some 70
years later, Orwell’s prediction of a Ministry of Truth announcing that ‘war is
peace, freedom is slavery and ignorance is strength’ is horrifyingly relevant
in today’s political rhetoric, where we are witnessing lies, fake news,
trolling and propaganda.
Following these lines, the
present artwork tries to wake us all up, by demonstrating that ‘natural is
artificial’ is an inconceivable lie. Natural red and beautiful poppies are not
made of glass, no matter how exquisite and abundant they are. When looking at
the field of poppies from a distance, they look completely natural. However,
when approaching the field and examining the poppies up-close, the bitter truth
is revealed - the poppies are all fake and made of glass. Don’t let fake news
and deception prevail, and open your eyes and minds to see, understand and
appreciate the real truth in which we live.