ZONE FREE, 2021
300 x 150cm
faux fur, velvet, digital embroidery

My migration from Poland to Norway happened in mid-2020 when repressions against queer society (followed by detention and trials for those protesting peacefully) turned violent. I started my degree at the same time when my friends were demonstrating in the cities of Poland. I partially accepted that protest doesn't happen exclusively in the streets and I consider my latest works as my way of condemning Polish regime actions (I define the Polish regime as the romance between Church and far-right ruling party Law and Justice). Producing action objects like flags or banners seems to be fake because I cannot use them in action but I keep working with objects which are referring to my actual position. Since early 2019 dozens of towns and counties (1/3 of its area – approx. the same as Hungary's) have legally proclaimed themselves as 'LGBT-free zones'. This populistic legislation is a symbolic tool of humiliating and dehumanizing queer society. I've researched web pages of those regions and tried to find what they're proud of. Drawings based on legislators' objects of pride were transformed into multiple applications on the blanket. Without provided context, this textile piece seems to be peaceful and even silly, but after discovering what was hidden, the whole experience reveals a bittersweet meaning. The blanket is a physical representation of the burden that clashes with my current privilege.