Us, Living on the Crust
2024
Borders are cultural and national remnants, and modern human beings must reconsider their meaning and significance. Everywhere is essentially the same, yet we divide it for fabricated reasons. Due to the monomania of a few, more and more people are forced to leave their homes — compelled to become lost strangers, willingly or not.
As a Hungarian citizen, it became essential for me to reflect on this notion. The Hungarian government presents the country as Europe’s bulwark — its defending border — and for years has conducted an aggressive anti-migrant campaign that has shaped public opinion in a deeply exclusionary way. Along the Serbian–Hungarian border, illegal human trafficking persists, and in the vicinity of the crossing numerous abandoned and burnt cars remain as traces of police chases.
On 11 November 2023, the Hungarian far-right party Mi Hazánk held a demonstration at the border, advocating reinforcement of the barrier. I traveled there to photograph both the event and the surrounding areas of the Schengen border.
Delving into the concept of national borders — especially at the outer boundary of the Schengen Area — Us, Living on the Crust explores what the journey of becoming an outsider might mean today.
For the installation, I constructed two types of uniquely modified LCD screens. The displays were designed to establish a strong conceptual connection with the topic.
The project was presented in the Academy section of the Bratislava OFF Festival, where the installation received the ON Award
Installation views
As a Hungarian citizen, it became essential for me to reflect on this notion. The Hungarian government presents the country as Europe’s bulwark — its defending border — and for years has conducted an aggressive anti-migrant campaign that has shaped public opinion in a deeply exclusionary way. Along the Serbian–Hungarian border, illegal human trafficking persists, and in the vicinity of the crossing numerous abandoned and burnt cars remain as traces of police chases.
On 11 November 2023, the Hungarian far-right party Mi Hazánk held a demonstration at the border, advocating reinforcement of the barrier. I traveled there to photograph both the event and the surrounding areas of the Schengen border.
Delving into the concept of national borders — especially at the outer boundary of the Schengen Area — Us, Living on the Crust explores what the journey of becoming an outsider might mean today.
For the installation, I constructed two types of uniquely modified LCD screens. The displays were designed to establish a strong conceptual connection with the topic.
The project was presented in the Academy section of the Bratislava OFF Festival, where the installation received the ON Award
Installation views
The photo series coexists with a poem I wrote, which can be interpreted in three ways. It combines the description of an illegal border-crossing process with my personal reflections on boundaries.