Blind Presence by Nikola Grozdanov
Year 2021
Street art, such as graffiti, exercises the freedom of expression perhaps more than any other form of art. It's not surprising that the streets have become a medium for expression of powerful comments on social and political issues. Much of the street art is a result of criticism towards institutions and government policies, which are seen as culprits for the crises in a society. The ability to utilize the power of street art gives people the opportunity to speak on behalf of the general public. Street art empowers the oppressed and acts a testament of the collective voice.
The work consists of three spray cans which are made from transparent glass and are loaded with non-lethal bullets. The bullets serve as a metaphor for the potential of art being a weapon defending the freedom of expression and speech, thus implying the direct role street art can play in the political changes within a society. From one side the transparency of glass reveals the bullets inside the cans and from another it makes a reference to the great danger of losing transparency in democratic processes.
