Fragile Pieces

According to photos published on X (formerly Twitter), these looted items were found in the pockets of Russian soldiers after a massacre of civilians. Similar artefacts are known to have been sent as gifts to families in Russia. The object Fragile Piece uses the pattern of a military uniform on the cotton lining of a postcard. EMR camouflage, a.k.a. “digital flora,” was introduced as a basie motif for Russian uniforms in 2008. lt has since covered the uniforms worn by soldiers during operations in Syria and the wars in Ukraine – from 2014 and the current one. The work questions the very function of the uniform as a timeless symbol of service, loyalty and patriotism, and the image of soldiers as heroes. Is service to a country that leads to the annihilation of other nations and social groups stili a manifestation of patriotism in the context of respect towards representatives of different nations? Is the defmition of patriotism as love for one’s fatherland/motherland and the nation, and the readiness to sacrifice oneself for them, stili valid – especially in countries that do not defend their territories and citizens, but attack other nations, inventing ever more pretexts for aggression? With the vast amount of available knowledge about geopolitical interdependencies and the war crimes committed on the fronts of Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa, are we able to answer the question “Who is a hero?” The objects in the cardboard box are made of cast iron. Although this materiał is associated with heavy and sturdy things, the small items in the box are very fragile and delicate. onvicaHHfl po6on1