The Bell Ropes installation can be thought of as either portraying the institution’s propaganda instruments or the individuals that are part of the institution. In either case, the installation is a metaphor for the ‘machine’ spreading an institution’s ideology. Without it the institution would be unable to pass along its ideas and maintain or gather new supporters; and such is composed not only of objects or mechanisms but also of those who adhere and act as the agents who make use of these instruments. Many might do it aware of their active role but not few tend to participate in a more inattentive or absentminded way.
The artist is also commenting on the characteristics of this propaganda ‘mechanism’, and on how many times these are not complicated but, instead, quite rough and simple tools and notions. Yet, the organized arrangement is also revealing of how such should not be misinterpreted. There is agency behind even the most unpretentious and negligible propaganda and ideas. Awareness of each person’s role in such processes is of the utmost importance to better deconstruct the ideas one is accepting or rejecting in order to mold one’s own personal point of view.
Given this the artist is asking for a reflection that goes beyond the actual institution and is, in fact, focused on the conscience one has of the tools and agents being used to spread specific ideas. The question then goes into the individual’s awareness of his own role as target of indoctrination or even of his active part in such a process.
Eduardo Marques da Costa
From The Bells Brake Down Their Tower 2016 Exhibition
The artist is also commenting on the characteristics of this propaganda ‘mechanism’, and on how many times these are not complicated but, instead, quite rough and simple tools and notions. Yet, the organized arrangement is also revealing of how such should not be misinterpreted. There is agency behind even the most unpretentious and negligible propaganda and ideas. Awareness of each person’s role in such processes is of the utmost importance to better deconstruct the ideas one is accepting or rejecting in order to mold one’s own personal point of view.
Given this the artist is asking for a reflection that goes beyond the actual institution and is, in fact, focused on the conscience one has of the tools and agents being used to spread specific ideas. The question then goes into the individual’s awareness of his own role as target of indoctrination or even of his active part in such a process.
Eduardo Marques da Costa
From The Bells Brake Down Their Tower 2016 Exhibition