HOAX
Agnieszka Sejud
HOAX is a story of self-delusion, one we are all a witness to. This is a country where European political standards are considered radical. The mere idea of a separation of church and state creates unrest and turmoil. The Catholic church is a privileged institution – it does not pay taxes, has widespread influence and considerable wealth. This is a country where 87% of the population are baptized Catholics but their faith is rather selective and syncretic – contrary to Christian teachings, some believe in reincarnation and destiny. Here, a million people line up to pray the rosary together and members of the clergy look like they have committed all seven deadly sins.
Not all members of the society – women, racial and sexual minorities – are considered full citizens. And homosexuality is still treated as a disease by some.
Forests resemble wild garbage dumps. The mass destruction of trees and the coal-based power industry fill our lungs with smog. The use of renewable energy is practically non-existent while additional coal power plants are planned to be built.
Propaganda is spread by the public media. The internet makes manipulation easier; the network has become another convenient channel for the distribution of lies. The truth has become outdated and has been rendered invalid a long time ago. It is no longer necessary if one can effectively play on people’s emotions. The present is a world of post-truths and fake news, where it is hard to find oneself but easy to lose, the already faint, sense of security and certainty in life. The stream of information flowing from media channels differs so drastically that we must ask ourselves again, each and every day, ‘where lies the truth’?
Agnieszka Sejud is an interdisciplinary visual artist operating between Hamburg and Wrocław. She holds a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Wrocław and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Silesian University in Opava (Czech Republic). In her artistic practice, Sejud engages with various media as tools for critical reflection on identity, the notion of individual freedom, and the oppressive structures that constrain human autonomy. Her work aims to deconstruct and dismantle these mechanisms through an experiment-driven artistic approach. She works with photography, both digital and analog collage, artist publications, installations, and video art. A distinctive feature of her aesthetic is the deliberate deformation of the image, which serves as an expressive vehicle for conveying complex ideas and emotions. Sejud’s works have been exhibited in numerous international contexts, affirming their universal resonance and significance within the discourse of contemporary visual art.